Mohamed Salah's failure to win silverware with Liverpool last season will prevent him from clinching the 2021 Ballon d'Or, legendary ex-Cameroon goalkeeper Joseph-Antoine Bell says.
The former Indomitable Lions and Marseille stopper, meanwhile, praised Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, whose outstanding debut season in London -- including victory in the 2021 UEFA Champions League final -- wasn't enough to see him included in the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist.
Salah's form in the Premier League through 2021 has been irrepressible, with the forward scoring 14 goals in his past 11 matches across all competitions, while breaking Didier Drogba's longstanding record for goals scored by an African player in the top flight.
However, Bell believes he's set to miss out on the grandest individual prize in the sport.
"Salah has had a fantastic season, but he also did that last year," Bell told ESPN.
"There's no doubt that Salah is clearly among the best players in the world, but we have to be honest about this.
"When people talk about who should win the Ballon d'Or, they always ask, 'What did he win?' and we have to apply this to everyone.
"Salah wasn't champion of England, he wasn't champion of Africa, whereas others won things, so it makes it very hard to say that Salah deserves the Ballon d'Or more than other people."
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Despite not claiming any honours last term, when Liverpool struggled with injury problems as they attempted to defend the Premier League title, Salah did net 22 league goals to ensure almost single-handedly that the Reds qualified for the UEFA Champions League.
He also made the PFA Team of the Year and won his second PFA Fans' Player of the Year award during another remarkable season of individual achievement.
"These individual distinctions always involve the absolute best players, so we're only talking about the finest margins here," Bell said. "Salah definitely belongs among the best.
"Already saying he's among the players who could win the Ballon d'Or is saying he's among the best players in the world.
"It's the truth. We see it every matchday. He's efficient with his team, scores goals, makes others score, too, and the team is working well."
While Salah ended 2020-21 without trophies, Senegal and Chelsea keeper Mendy was part of the Blues side that defeated Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League final to cap a remarkable debut season in England.
The keeper also won the UEFA Goalkeeper of the Season award and the UEFA Super Cup, helped Chelsea reach the FA Cup final, and equalled the record for the most clean sheets in a single Champions League season.
Beyond that, Mendy adapted quickly to life in England, becoming the first Chelsea stopper to keep five consecutive clean sheets in 10 years, while equalling Petr Cech's longstanding record as the first Blues goalkeeper to oversee shutouts in his first three matches for the club.
Despite this, Bell can understand why Mendy missed out on the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist.
"He isn't in the Ballon d'Or shortlist [because] comparing a goalkeeper to outfield players, without clear criteria, [is difficult]," Bell said.
"Obviously, the goalkeeper isn't the same as other players, so it's hard -- and it's always going to be complicated -- to put keepers on the same list as others."
Bell does believe, however, that Mendy could reasonably have been considered in the shortlist, particularly with more than 16% of the Ballon d'Or shortlist comprising Chelsea players.
"They are all marvellous players, but I think that -- when we start considering who won what -- it would have been logical to put Mendy before [some of them].
"However, I believe that they're all fabulous players ... Salah, [Riyad] Mahrez.
"The best of the year doesn't mean the best for life, just for the year in question."