In the build-up to Monday's Ballon d'Or awards, a slightly awkward moment involving Sadio Mane and former FC Metz player Ludovic Obraniak took place on French TV.
The 30-year-old forward, who lifted the FA Cup and Carabao Cup with Liverpool last season after leading Senegal to an Africa Cup of Nations title, finished second in the 2022 Ballon d'Or standings.
He was beaten by Karim Benzema in the end, but Mane was named the inaugural winner of the Socrates Award; a prize that honours footballers who campaign for integration, climate protection, disadvantaged people or those threatened by conflict.
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After being recognised for his extraordinary social commitment, the humble Mane said: "I'm just pleased to be here. I don't like talking about what I do, but I do what I can for my people and try to improve things in my country."
Ahead of the awards ceremony in Paris, Mane had only just arrived at the Theatre du Chatelet when French publication L'Equipe pulled him over to take part in an interview.
One of L'Equipe's guests on the red carpet, meanwhile, was former Lille and Werder Bremen player Ludovic Obraniak, who also played for Mane's former club FC Metz between 2002 and 2007.
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Obraniak was minding his own business on the panel when presenter Messaoud Benterki decided to ask Mane about the former Poland international.
Benterki said: "Are you happy to see Ludovic Obraniak again?" before a confused Mane replied: "Who is that?"
To his credit, Obraniak laughed it off and said: “We met when we were in Metz!”
Seconds later and the Bayern Munich forward politely smiled and waved at the panel before conducting the rest of the interview.
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Going back to Mane's incredible work away from football, the 30-year-old has transformed his childhood village of Bambali, a village in the south of Senegal, with a number of incredible gestures.
He donated significant sums of money to help improve the conditions of the remote village, including a sum of £500,000 for a new hospital and having previously donated a reported £200,000 for a new secondary school to be constructed, Mane is said to have built a fuel station and a post office to help locals.
In April 2018, he also donated over £200,000 so that the next generation of children in Bambali have a new secondary school to give them an opportunity to prosper in life.
When The Telegraph spoke to him about building a school for the younger generation, he requested it be left out of the interview, adding "I do not do this for publicity."
Featured Image Credit: L'Equipe/TwitterTopics: Sadio Mane, Bayern Munich, Ballon d'Or
