Arsene Wenger believes Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior will have something to say about Mohamed Salah potentially winning the Ballon d'Or this year.

Salah is the favorite to win the gong in 2025 as a result of his remarkable form for Liverpool since the start of this season, with the Egyptian currently topping the European Golden Shoe charts with 25 Premier League goals to his name.

The 32-year-old has also racked up more assists (16) than any other player in Europe's top five leagues (Barcelona's Lamine Yamal is second with 12), and against Manchester City on Sunday he scored and assisted in the same league game for the 11th time in 27 league appearances this season.

READ MORE: ‘I saw the moment Virgil van Dijk sorted Liverpool’s biggest issue against Man City’

READ MORE: Alexis Mac Allister makes Arsenal admission after 'important' Liverpool win over Man City

Asked on beIN SPORTS whether Salah could become the first Ballon d'Or winner from Africa since George Weah in 1995, Wenger responded: "You wouldn't rule him out. You have [Kylian] Mbappe, certainly, to fight with him, Vinicius [Junior] will fight with him.

"Tonight we see again what we have seen so many times in the modern game: 67% possession for Man City, 2-0 for Liverpool. This is down to people who are a level above, like Salah. He scored the goal and made an assist.

"I read somewhere that he contributed with goals and assists to 31 points for Liverpool this season. You cannot rule him out for any special award – this guy is exceptional."

Salah will turn 33 in the weeks after the end of the season ends and what has impressed Wenger more than anything is Salah's longevity.

The Frenchman added: "What I love the most in his career: he became better and better every year, more clinical. He does less quantity today, but he doesn't lose quality, and that shows that he is not only a great talent but also a very intelligent player.

"He has found a good balance between obsession to score goals and giving the ball. We had a period between him and [Sadio] Mane, there were tensions, because everybody tried to score without passing the ball. He understands that to be really great he has to contribute and he has done that really well."