Liverpool star Sadio Mane lost out in the Ballon d'Or race because he is African, according to Cheikhou Kouyate.

The Crystal Palace star believes that Mane, who came fourth in the voting behind Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Virgil Van Dijk, suffered due to his race.

Mane continued his sensational form by helping Liverpool to an easy 5-2 win over Everton at home on Wednesday night in the Premier League.

"For me this Ballon d'Or is for Sadio Mane, there is no doubt about that," Kouyate told the Mirror.

"Listen, if Sadio was a Brazilian or a European there would not have been no debate.

"It would have been him for the award straight away and it's not because I play with him at international level, or because I know him; it's just what people who watch football feel.

"Just go back and watch what he did for both club and country and you will see in between the lines that no one has been better than him."