Sadio Mane has been backed to win the Ballon d’Or this year by former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, who will co-present the awards ceremony in December.

The Liverpool forward has been in scintillating form throughout the calendar year, helping his team to the Champions League in June and to the top of the Premier League table so far this season.

In addition to last season’s near-miss in the title fight, where the Reds lost out to Manchester City by a single point, Mane ended the season as the joint-top scorer, with 22 goals.

He then helped Senegal to the Africa Cup of Nations final over the summer, where they were eventually bested by Algeria.

Despite those margins meaning Mane missed out on a potential three-trophy haul, Drogba feels his consistency, goalscoring feats and European triumph all mean the attacker is well-placed to end a 24-year wait for a second African winner of the award.

Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated Show all 30 1 /30 Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-30. Joao Felix (500/1) The supremely talented youngster has made a bright start at Atletico Madrid. Getty Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-30. Marquinhos (500/1) The Brazilian is one of the best defenders in the world and helped PSG to yet another title. Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-30. Riyad Mahrez (500/1) A strange inclusion, considering he was not always starting games for Manchester City last season, albeit an undoubtedly talented player. Getty Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-30. Kalidou Koulibaly (500/1) A rock at the back for Napoli and one of Europe’s most well-rounded defenders. Has been repeatedly linked with big money moves to the likes of Barcelona and Manchester United. REUTERS Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-30-. Son Heung-min (500/1) One of the Premier League's best forwards over the past two years who helped propel Tottenham to the Champions League final. Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-30. Trent Alexander-Arnold (500/1 Trent Alexander-Arnold has been a revelation, creating goals regularly from right-back in a stunning season. REUTERS Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-30. Marc-Andre ter Stegen (500/1) The goalkeeper has become one of the best in the world at Barcelona. Bongarts/Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-30. Georginio Wijnaldum (500/1) The midfielder had an impressive campaign in the centre of Liverpool's team as they won the Champions League. PA Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-30. Donny Van de Beek (500/1 The Ajax midfielder had a supreme season as the club won the Eredevisie and reached the Champions League semi-final. Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated 21. Karim Benzema (400/1) Still scoring regularly for Real Madrid, a player who has never got the credit he deserves. Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-20. Robert Lewandowski (250/1) Still maintaining a relentless goalscoring streak at 31 years old and thriving in a leadership role in a Bayern side in transition. Perhaps Europe's most prolific striker and capable of scoring every type of goal. AFP via Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-20. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (250/1) The Arsenal striker has been in consistent goalscoring form since joining the Gunners. Reuters Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-20. Hugo Lloris (250/1) No, we're not sure why either. Action Images via Reuters Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-20. Dusan Tadic (250/1) Shining as a false nine and delivering insane production for Dutch giants Ajax. Maybe the key piece in their Champions League run, 47 goals and 34 assists since the start of last season. Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-20. Antoine Griezmann (250/1) As consistent as ever for Atletico Madrid before his summer move to Barcelona, where he has started the season impressively, scoring four goals and providing three assists in eight La Liga appearances. Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated 15. Sergio Aguero (200/1) Sergio Aguero remains one of the most potent goalscorers in world football, and was Manchester City's top scorer as they won the Premier League. Getty Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-14. Roberto Firmino (150/1) Selfless at times but also key in sprinkling the final touches to Liverpool's moves when necessary. Gorgeous technique and the movement to enable Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah to thrive. Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-14. Matthijs De Ligt (150/1) A dominant centre-back with quality to match, though the transition at Juventus has so far been tough. Yet he led a young Ajax team superbly and forms one half of the finest centre-back partnership in international football alongside Virgil van Dijk. Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-14. Frenkie De Jong (150/1) Maybe the finest midfielder of the last 12 months, fearless on the ball for Ajax, no matter the moment, while also fundamental to a resurgent Netherlands. Barcelona have the premier midfielder of the next decade. AP Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-11. Kylian Mbappe (66/1) The magnetism of Mbappe hasn't faded since France's World Cup victory, scoring 33 goals in 29 games as PSG stormed to the Ligue 1 title. Icon Sport via Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-11. Eden Hazard (66/1) In a topsy-turvy final season at Chelsea, under Maurizio Sarri, Hazard carried an often chaotic side on his shoulders, scoring 21 goals and adding 17 assists in all competitions as the Blues won the Europa League, before finally sealing his summer move to Real Madrid. Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-9. Raheem Sterling (50/1) Man City's standout player in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, scoring 17 goals and adding 12 assists as Pep Guardiola's side clinched a third Premier League title, as well as an FA and EFL Cup. AFP via Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-9. Kevin De Bruyne (50/1) Injuries have stemmed his progress, but he is back now and hitting his previous heights. A devastating player able to break games open or control them. PA Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated 7. Bernardo Silva (40/1) Integral to Manchester City, having helped fill the void left by the injured Kevin De Bruyne, while also an inspiration for Portugal to win the Nations League. A complete player who refuses to hide in the big moments and always makes his teammates better. Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-6. Mohamed Salah (20/1) Relentlessly effective cutting in off the right-wing, Salah scored 27 goals in all competitions as Liverpool lifted the Champions League and chased down Man City to the final game of the Premier League season. Liverpool FC via Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-6. Sadio Mane (20/1) The understated partner to Mohamed Salah, yet quietly the more impressive over the 2018/19 season. Mane scored 22 goals in the Premier League, starred in Liverpool's Champions League win, and guided Senegal to the final of the African Cup of Nations. Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated T-6. Alisson (20/1) The Brazilian established himself as arguably the best ball-playing goalkeeper in the world, making a series of crucial saves - none more so than against Napoli - as Liverpool clinched a sixth European Cup. Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated 3. Cristiano Ronaldo (18/1) The fears over whether Ronaldo's talents would fade beyond Madrid were quickly extinguished, scoring 21 goals in 31 games as Juventus cantered to the Serie A title, before inspiring Portugal's Nations League victory in the summer. Juventus FC via Getty Images Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated 2. Lionel Messi (7/4) As mercurial and peerless as ever, Messi scored 36 goals and added 15 assists as Barcelona clinched La Liga, as well as 12 goals in 10 games during the club's run to the Champions League semi-final. EPA Ballon d'Or contenders ranked and rated 1. Virgil Van Dijk (2/5) The undisputed talisman of Liverpool's Champions League win, and the club's relentless title charge. The centre-back played every league game and lifted a formidable side like few other players in Europe have managed. Getty Images

“Sadio Mane,” he told Paris Match, when asked for his favourite to win. ”For the AFCON, the Champions League, and the league championship. What he does in the Premier League, very few players are able to do it.

“It is possible, but it would have been possible [for others to win] well before. There are many players who have represented well the African continent, like Samuel Eto’o.

“What is a pity is that when we talk about African players, we talk about the continent, we do not speak of a country. We will never say ‘Kylian Mbappe represents the European continent’. It is a small shift [in mentality] that is present.

“But to return to the question, it would be really nice that Sadio, or even Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continue to raise their level of play to hope to win this trophy.

Mane is one of several Liverpool players in contention (Getty)

Salah and Aubameyang jointly shared the Premier League Golden Boot with Mane last season, while Salah himself scored in the Champions League final in June.

Since then, Salah and Mane have added European Super Cup medals to their cabinets, further strengthening their claims.