There has only been one African winner of the prestigious Ballon d'Or to date, and former FC Barcelona star Samuel Eto'o has now slammed the prestigious prize over its African player snubs.
Read: Ronaldo On His Ballon d'Or Chances
Eto'o once finished in fifth place in the 2009 Ballon d'Or but he has now questioned the accolade and the lack of African players in the top three.
The retired Cameroon international, who hung up his boots last weekend, believes Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have no chance of lifting this year's Golden Ball despite winning the Uefa Champions League and the Golden Boot last season.
"We are only good to denigrate our own brothers. We are not respected," he told RFI.
"It's a fact. I hope I'm wrong, but the next Ballon d'Or will be neither Mane nor Salah.
"There is no explanation that Mane, Salah or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the top three scorers of the Premier League last season may not even be among the top five.
"Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are both very strong, but this season who won the Champions League? It's Mane and Salah."
The Ballon d'Or will be announced by L'Equipe in December, while Fifa's The Best Men's Player will be announced on 23 September.
Read: The Highest-Paid Players In Football Right Now
Virgil van Dijk won the first major award of the season, namely the Uefa Player of the Year accolade, with Messi in second and Ronaldo third place, while Mane finished in fifth place and Salah in sixth.
Do you think African stars do not get enough credit at football's biggest awards? Have your say in the comments section below.
