The Senegal star received Messi’s top vote for the award last month, with the Barcelona winger eventually picking up the prize himself, while Mane finished fifth.
Mane’s team-mate Virgil van Dijk finished in second, ahead of Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo and fellow Reds winger Mohamed Salah in third and fourth respectively.
“It’s a great compliment when Messi votes for you,” Mane said in an interview with The Sunday Times.
“If you look at where I’ve come from, it shows I’ve come quite far. Without being for a long time at an academy, I got here.
“All I can say [to kids] is to keep working hard and go for your dream.”
And on whether or not he would return the favour for Messi if given the chance, the Liverpool winger joked: “Yes, for sure…after Virgil [Van Dijk]. No, Virgil is a great, great player but sorry Virgil, it has to be Messi before you.”
