There weren't many football fans who didn't have a laugh when Liverpool splashed £34 million on Southampton's Sadio Mane.


The Senegalese flyer was undoubtedly a talent - but was he worth £34 million? 

Fast forward three years and all of the above-mentioned fans have had to scoff down a rather bitter slice of humble pie, with Mane dominating the European football scene on all fronts.

To be the shining star in Liverpool's terrifying attacking trident is no small feat, but Mane has made the post his own over the last year.

He shared the Premier League Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and played a major role in the Reds clinching their sixth Europen title in May.

This season, he has picked up right where he left off, driving the Anfield side to a perfect start in the Premier League.

It is no surprise then that fellow professionals are taking notice of Mane, with Lionel Messi even making him his number one choice for the recent FIFA's The Best award.

Now, another world-class player, Thiago Silva, has had his say on the talismanic Senegalese.


Speaking in the aftermath of Brazil's friendly with Senegal, Silva outlined just how good Mane is.

"Sadio Mané is a world-class player. He is almost perfect," he began, per Sky Sports.

"He moves very fast, controls the ball well and is very intelligent in his movements.

I think he deserves to be in the discussion for the Ballon d'Or.

He's not wrong.

Mane has been one of the best players on the planet over the last 12 months and surely has to be considered for football's biggest individual prize.

While he might not win it outright, his electric form has certainly seen him force his way into contention.

For now, though, Mane will be focused on Liverpool's efforts to finally end their Premier League title duck.

With a chance to run at that United defence on the weekend, Mane will be chomping at the bit to get going again following the international break.