Predicted candidate plummets. It is a trial that arrived for Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) in just one match.

Liverpool confirmed their elimination after losing 2-4 on penalties against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) Round of 16 second leg, held at Anfield in Liverpool, England, on Dec. 12 (Korea time).

After winning the first leg 1-0, Liverpool showed a completely different form in this match. In contrast to the last match where they were powerless against PSG's offense, in this second leg, they pressed hard and attacked at a fast tempo from the early stages. In the 6th minute, Mohamed Salah's penetration shot went wide of the goal, and in the 10th minute, Virgil van Dijk's header was also blocked by the opposing defense.

Contrary to the last match, the first goal went to PSG. In the 12th minute, Bradley Barcola's pass from the right side was finished by Ousmane Dembélé in front of the goal, putting PSG ahead.

Liverpool continued to attack. In the 17th minute, Diogo Jota's header went off target, and in the 53rd minute, Trent Alexander-Arnold's long-range shot hit the crossbar, leaving them disappointed. In the 58th minute, Luis Díaz's header flew sharply, but was thwarted by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's super save.

Liverpool launched a total offensive in the latter stages of the second half. In the 86th minute, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's curling shot barely missed the goal, and in stoppage time, Salah and Díaz both attempted shots successively, but neither resulted in a goal. Ultimately, the match went into extra time.

Even in extra time, Liverpool had the upper hand but lacked finishing prowess. In the 100th minute of extra time, a shot from substitute Lee Kang-in was saved by Alisson, and in the 103rd minute, another shot from Lee Kang-in was again blocked by Alisson's save.

The match ultimately progressed to penalties, where Liverpool lost 2-4 after Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones both failed to score.

The UEFA Champions League reported on an interview with Liverpool coach Arne Slot after the match. In an interview with 'Amazon Prime Video,' Slot noted, "It was the best match I have ever experienced. Especially compared to last week, the performance was incredible," expressing satisfaction with the team's performance.

However, he added, "We kept creating opportunities, but we fell behind 1-0. It seems we used up all our luck last week," leaving behind a sense of regret.

He continued, "I don't think we deserved to be behind by one goal based on our performance. We played almost a perfect game but couldn’t score. It was similar to PSG's perfect match last week in Paris. And in extra time, they seemed to have the upper hand again," he said.

Slot remarked, "Right now, everyone has no choice but to be disappointed," while also stating, "I know how resilient our players are. This match contained all the elements you want in soccer. From Liverpool's perspective, I believe we deserved at least a draw for 90 minutes."

Meanwhile, Liverpool's elimination has led to significant shifts in the Ballon d'Or predictions. According to an overseas betting site 'Polymarket,' Mohamed Salah has consistently been at the top of predictions for the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner, evaluated with odds over 40-50% as a top contender.

In fact, Salah's performance in the league this season has been astonishing. Up to this point, he has recorded 27 goals and 17 assists, achieving 44 attacking points. While winning the league seemed likely and a treble was possible, the early elimination from the UCL became a hindrance.

With this day's defeat, Salah's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or plummeted. Although constantly changing, Salah's odds fell behind competitors like Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) and Raphinha (FC Barcelona). Ultimately, the UCL early exit is highly likely to become a stumbling block for Salah's last aspiration of winning the Ballon d'Or.

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