The outcome of the Champions League final could decide who wins this year's Ballon d'Or, according to Djimi Traore, who won the 2005 tournament with Liverpool.

Real striker Karim Benzema has struck 15 goals in Europe this season.

Liverpool's Mane was instrumental in Senegal's first Africa Cup of Nations triumph in February and helped the Teranga Lions qualify for the 2022 World Cup, with the 30-year-old having also won two domestic cups with his club this season.

"I think Karim Benzema is in the form in his life - he's doing fantastically," Traore told BBC Sport Africa.

"I think the winner of the Champions League, the individual reward would be like winning the Ballon d'Or. Right now it looks like it'll be between Benzema and Mane."

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Rodrygo has been one of the heroes of Real Madrid's Champions League run.

But did you know he nearly joined Liverpool for about £2.5m - and that his move to Real was agreed in a Starbucks in the city?

Read more about the Brazilian talent here.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah says he will be at Anfield next season "for sure" but would not be drawn over whether he will sign a new contract.

Salah's deal ends in June 2023, leading to speculation he could be sold if he did not sign a new one as he would leave on a free in a year's time.

When asked about his future before Saturday's Champions League final, he said: "I don't want to talk about that.

"I just want to see Hendo [Jordan Henderson] with the trophy.

"I don't focus on the contract at the moment. I don't want to be selfish.

"I am staying next season for sure."

The word seems to be that Thiago is looking OK now so hopefully should be able to start.

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Coming in there was a lot of shoving and pushing. There were fans trying to get through because there were ticket checks and there we some fans who didn't have tickets and they were the ones causing the problems.

It was quite harrowing for a lot of people and it was taking far too long to get through.

The big issue in this is that there were a lot of fans trying to get in who didn't tickets and there is an element of responsibility from these fans not to try and get in and do the right thing.

A Question of Sport

As the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid draws ever closer, the Question of Sport team have put together a quiz about British teams in previous showpieces.

Ten British teams have reached at least one European Cup or Champions League final, with Celtic the first back in 1967, and Saturday's match will be Liverpool's 10th appearance.

Have a go here.

Gareth: In Barcelona for a break (strategic error several months ago)... found an Irish bar and enquiries suggest that locals might just be on the side of the Reds. Here's hoping.

James: From the Outer Hebrides, also in a field and a tent, again. The only way right?

Eddie: I know there's a big, big game tonight.... but how is it possible that 19:07 is even a debate?? (With elderly, partially sighted Dad who gets very disappointed if there's a short corner, also full of cold, at home).

There's no debate Eddie. I can confirm our teabag confused colleague has been roundly mocked.

John Murray
BBC commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

The French radio station RMC are reporting that some ticketless fans have tried to get into the stadium. They say it is Liverpool fans and they describe the situation as the stewards being briefly overwhelmed.

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This was supposed to be a dream seven days for Real Madrid.

Announce the signing of Kylian Mbappe - arguably the world's most coveted player - at the start of the week, and win the Champions League at the end of it.

That was the expectation from club president Florentino Perez, who had been ultra confident a deal for the World Cup-winning France forward would be done.

That Mbappe chose to stay at Paris St-Germain has not gone down well. The Madrid press have been apoplectic, to the point that in the early part of this week all coverage was about the non-deal rather than the small matter of Saturday's final against Liverpool.

The fallout has involved Karim Benzema courting controversy, but may actually end up being good news for some of the Bernabeu club's key players.

Either way, it has certainly not been the build-up to their bid for a 14th Champions League title that Real Madrid had been expecting.

Read more here.

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From A* pupils to life-saving surgery, NHS champions to the forward who cleaned the toilets in his local mosque the morning after scoring, these are the stories behind Klopp's Class of 2022 as Liverpool look to conquer Europe for a seventh time.

Click here to read them.

Lorraine Mckenna: Full squad photo ready for (hopefully) a Liverpool victory!

Image source, Lorraine Mckenna

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Success has followed Carlo Ancelotti wherever he has been. You have to have a special ability to do that and go into huge football clubs.

For him to have gone there and had the success and be in this position tells you all you need to know about him.

Liverpool midfielder Thiago ran down the tunnel to the dressing room a while ago. Naby Keita then trained with the team on the pitch. Thiago is back doing stretches and running on his own.

Is he a doubt?

Dave Forsyth: 2:30am in Hong Kong, 3hrs sleep, kits, scarves, whisky, nerves, ready. C'mon the mighty reds.

Joe Chalmers: Settled into an Irish bar in Cusco , Peru . 2pm here so plenty of time to celebrate.

Jon: Gutted to be missing the game. Sat on a boat in the Black Sea watching a digger cut up a rock subsea. Following bbc sport and it’s updates. Internet so slow. Come on Liverpool

Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Dani Carvajal, Marcelo, Gareth Bale and Isco played in all four of Real Madrid's Champions League final wins in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Today is a fifth appearance for Benzema, Modric and Carvajal at least. Only Francisco Gento (six), has appeared in more European Cup finals.

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

if you look at Carlo Ancelotti's record, he has won titles in the top five European leagues which is incredible.

His record against Klopp I find really interesting. Ancelotti just edges it over Klopp in their head-to-head games and you could say with lesser sides with the likes of Napoli and Everton. So he knows how to beat Jurgen Klopp which makes it more fascinating.

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Anon: My husband Alyn's view from his seat in the stadium YNWA . And meeting some great Real fans

Wez: Been getting the identical twins in the spirit today. They've gone to bed now but I'll no doubt wake them at full-time.

Anon: During the final, I will be suffering through Mary Poppins the musical. Worst of all I'm the one who chose the date. Needless to say I will be checking my phone frantically.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Stade de France

There is a marked contrast in the two ends of the stadium. The Real Madrid end is packed while there are huge spaces at the Liverpool end.

When I made my way into the stadium after a tortous journey, long queues and gridlocks were builduing up and the situation was getting tense.

Just 35 minutes to go to kick-off.