Head coach of Egypt national team, Javier Aguirre, has said star man Mohammed Salah can win the Ballon D'Or prize, if he leads his country to winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah comes into the tournament, after a league campaign that saw him win the Champions League with Liverpool.
He will be expected to pull strings, as seven-time champions Egypt kick off their campaign on Friday against Group A opponents Zimbabwe in Cairo.
Aguirre believes there is added incentive for Salah to impress on home soil.
"He's helped me with the group since the beginning; he's a kind of leader.
"I'm really happy with him because he had an extraordinary season with his club.
"So I say, 'OK Mohamed, if you're able to help us win the African Cup, for sure you're going to be in the last three or four for the Ballon d'Or'.
"He's a very nice guy, a humble guy. He's sincere, he jokes with everybody. We have a real normal relationship," the 60-year-old told The National.
Egypt, who last won the competition in 2010, are pre-tournament favourites.
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