Chelsea goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy has reacted to his Ballon d’Or snub by asking if he would have been left off the shortlist had he played for France.
The 29-year-old Senegalese shot-stopper played a vital role in Chelsea’s Champions League triumph last season.
Mendy, who arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2020 from Rennes, kept a record-tying nine clean sheets in a single Champions League campaign.
However, the Senegal international surprisingly failed to make France Football’s 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, despite his brilliant form for Chelsea.
Chelsea’s Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Cesar Azpilicueta and Romelu Lukaku all managed to make the shortlist ahead of Mendy.
Although Mendy has insisted that the Ballon d’Or snub “motivates” him and it continues to push him to work hard.
The Chelsea star believes that the “debate” surrounding his omission from the Ballon d’Or shortlist might not have happened if he had played for France at Euro 2020 in the summer.
Speaking to Canal+ (via Wiw Sport), Mendy said: “It’s something that motivates me and pushes me to work. Honestly, I am wondering.
“If I had played for France and had taken part in the [European Championships], would we have this debate and this reflection?”
Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly admitted that it was a “shame” Senegal teammate Mendy was overlooked for the Ballon d’Or award.
Liverpool winger Sadio Mane followed the lead of Senegal captain Koulibaly after claiming it was “unacceptable” that Mendy wasn’t on the 30-man shortlist.