What a year for Sadio Mane

2019 has been an exceptional year for Sadio Mane as the Liverpool winger has enjoyed plenty of success, both as part of a team and as an individual. Since joining Liverpool from Southampton back in 2016, Mane has continuously improved and built a reputation as one of the best players in world football, with 2019 proving to be his best one yet. We’ve had a look at the success that Mane has enjoyed during 2019 and how he has contributed to his club and his country.

Premier League

Despite missing out on the trophy back in May, Liverpool’s Premier League form can’t be ignored as the reds accumulated 97 points during the 18/19 season. This season however it looks like Liverpool will be making amends for missing out last season, as they are currently 13 points clear at the top of the table and are well on their way to their first Premier League title. Mane has been instrumental in Liverpool’s league form as he picked up the 18/19 golden boot with 22 goals, sharing it with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah who also picked up 22 league goals. As a result of his fantastic league form in 2019, Mane was named as the Premier League player of the month twice and was named in the PFA Team of the year.

Europe

After losing the 2018 Champions League final to Real Madrid, Liverpool were looking to come back stronger the following season and go one step further and win their first Champions League trophy since 2005. Mane was instrumental in Liverpool’s 18/19 Champions League campaign as his brace against Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena helped Liverpool to a 3-1 victory and a place in the quarter-finals. After a straightforward 6-1 aggregate victory over Porto, Liverpool advance to the semi-finals where they produced one of the best comebacks in Champions League history as a 4-0 victory over Barcelona at Anfield gave Liverpool a 4-3 aggregate victory and a place in the final in Madrid where they beat Tottenham 2-0 to give them their sixth Champions League title. As a result of his success in the Champions League, Mane was named in the Champions League team of the season.

As a result of their Champions League success, Liverpool faced Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup in Istanbul, with Mane scoring a brace in a 2-2 draw. With Liverpool scoring all of their penalties, Adrian stepped up for Liverpool and saved Tammy Abraham’s penalty to give Liverpool their second European trophy of 2019.

Club World Cup

The FIFA Club World Cup was one trophy that Liverpool had never added to their collection, as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sao Paulo back in 2005. After their semi-final victory against mexican side Monterrey, Liverpool found themselves in the final and had a chance of becoming the second English side to win the trophy. After a goalless 0 minutes the game headed to extra time, where Mane set up Roberto Firmino to put Liverpool ahead and give them a win in the final and their first ever FIFA Club World Cup.

Mane success on the international stage is more individual than with his Senegal, with Senegal being runners up in the 2019 African Cup of Nations thanks to a 1-0 defeat to Algeria in the final. Despite missing out on the title, Mane displayed good form during the tournament, scoring 3 goals in 6 games for Senegal. As a result, Mane was in the African Cup of Nations team of the tournament. Mane was also named as the CAF African player of the year, beating Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez and Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah to the award.