Rise of a Football God

Now standing at the podium, Salah looked at the golden trophy, tracking its surface with his fingers before gently lifting it.

Clap! Clap!

The roar of the crowd surged again; fans, footballers, and icons applauding and recognizing a player who had defied odds at every step of his journey.

He cleared his throat, the weight of history pressing down.

Then, with humility and pride, he spoke. "This award…, this isn't just for me," he began, his voice steady. "It's for everyone who believed".

He grinned. "It's for Egypt, for Africa, for every kid who dreams with a ball at their feet".

"I am the first African to win the ballon d'or award since the legend, George Weah," he said, his voice turning emotional. "It's an honor".

The crowd cheered louder, and the camera panned to icons of African football; some with knowing smiles, others nodding in pride.

Tonight was more than a personal victory; it was a statement.

Didier Drogba, the former Chelsea striker and Ivory Coast legend who worked for France Football in particular had a big smile on his face as he presented the trophy to the deserving and record-breaking Egyptian.

As Salah lifted the Ballon d'Or high above his head, the golden glow illuminated his face, etching the image into football history.

A night that would be remembered, a night where hard work, consistency, and sheer brilliance triumphed.

With the main award claimed already, highlights of Salah's legendary season finally played out on the big screen, showing his biggest clutch moments for Liverpool in the previous season.

At some point, last season, it seemed like anything Salah does would lead to a goal as he entered God-mode, breaking even Lionel Messi's record by scoring and assisting in more than 10 games in a single football campaign.

And then came his heroics in the UEFA champions league.

His heroics against PSG in the round of 16, further heroics against Arsenal, all leading to the blockbuster final, Salah was unplayable in the previous season.

The only reason why he didn't have a perfect season was a certain Nigerian who also took the English premier league by storm in the previous season, a certain brat going by the name of Samuel Moses.

Without any respect for his elders, Sam disrupted Salah's perfect legendary season, depriving him of the English premier league by creating history with Fulham FC, winning the club its first English premier league title.
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After that, as the night progressed, the atmosphere in the grand hall of the Ballon d'Or gala remained electric.

The tension from the main award had barely settled when the next announcement arrived.

"And now, the Golden Boy Award, given to the best young player in world football". The host continued.

The screen behind the stage flashed with the faces of the nominees, young prodigies who had set the football world ablaze with their talent in the past season.

But one name stood out all year, one player who had shattered expectations, terrorized defenses, and announced himself as football's next force.

The announcer smiled, savoring the moment.

"And the Golden Boy of the year is… Samuel Moses!"

Sam's moment…, finally.

Clap! Clap!

The room immediately erupted with applause, but Sam himself?

He barely reacted at first. Dressed in his sharp black Gucci shirt, he leaned back slightly, as if he had expected this all along.

No sudden gasps, no hands over his mouth; just a small, knowing smirk.

'Finally!' He thought.

The camera zoomed in as he exhaled through his nose, shaking his head lightly before rising to his feet with the aura of a man who had arrived.

A few pats on the back, a handshake from Ronaldo Nazario, and then a hug with Gavi, Pedri, and a fist bump with Lamine Yamal, all recipients who had won this award before, he finally began his slow, deliberate walk to the stage.

"You deserve it!" Yamal said energetically in Spanish behind him.

As he climbed the steps, he spotted Salah in the front row, holding his Ballon d'Or trophy.

Their eyes met for a second, a brief, unspoken exchange between Africa's present King and its next challenger.

Salah gave him a small nod of approval.

Back on the pitch while plying their trades for Liverpool and Fulham respectively, they were rivals on the pitch but on this stage, they were African counterparts chasing greatness together.

Sam stepped up to the podium, where the gleaming Golden Boy trophy awaited him. There, he picked it up, its weight solid in his hands, then he turned to face the audience.

Facing the audience, he took a deep breath, looking out over the sea of footballing royalty.

And then, with a confident but measured tone, he spoke. "I could say I didn't expect this, but… I'd be lying".

Laughter rippled through the crowd, some amused, some nodding in agreement. Sam wasn't here to play humble. He had dominated, and he knew it.

"This isn't just my win," he continued, his voice calm yet powerful. "It's for every kid watching from the streets, from the academies, from places where dreams seem too far away".

He grinned. "I'm proof that nothing is impossible".

His words hung in the air, carrying weight far beyond the glitz of the gala.

And then he lifted the Golden Boy trophy high, its golden shine illuminating his face, a face that from tonight, would be remembered as the next great superstar in world football.

As he walked back to his seat, the cameras stayed on him longer than usual. This was no ordinary winner.

This was a statement, a warning to the world.

Football had just welcomed its next legend.

With that, the final full ranking for the 2024 Ballon d'Or was finally released.

[2025 Ballon D'or Ranking:]

[1. Mohamed Salah]

[2. Jamal Musiala]

[3. Trent Alexander Arnold]

[4. Kylian Mbappe]

[5. Samuel Moses]

[6. Harry Kane]

[7. Vinicius Jnr.]

[8. Alexis Mac Allister]

[9. Raphinha]

[10. Pedri]

[9. Jude Bellingham]

[10. Virgil Van Dijk]

[11. Robert Lewandowski]

[12. Lamine Yamal]

[13. Ryan Gravenberch]

[14. Erling Haaland]

[15. Florian Wirtz]

[16. Ademola Lookman]

[17. Alejandro Balde]

[18. Federico Valverde]

[19. Gavi]

[20. Cole Palmer]

[21. Allison Becker]

[22. Bukayo Saka]

[23. Antonio Rudiger]

[24. Ibrahima Konate]

[25. William Saliba]

[26. Vitinha]

[27. Joshua Kimmich]

[28. Pau Cubarsi]

[29. Luis Diaz]

The Ballon d'Or ceremony finally came to an end.