Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane has claimed Karim Benzema should win the Ballon d'Or this season.

The Senegalese winger, who was outstanding with the Reds last term before leaving for Bayern Munich in the summer, knows that he is also one of the contenders for the award.

However, he feels that France and Real Madrid star Benzema had the stand out individual season out of any player in the world.

He said: "Honestly, I think that Karim deserves it this year. He's had a great, great season with Real Madrid. He's won the Champions League… I think he easily deserves it, so I'm happy for him.

"I know I won the African Cup of Nations, it was a relief for me and for the whole country, and I'm really happy to have won my first AFCON with my country.

"But I think it's Karim who deserves it, and I honestly believe that."