Mohamed Salah, born on June 15, 1992, is considered one of Africa’s greatest football legends, even though his career is still ongoing.
With his dribbling skills, finishing ability, speed, and football intelligence, Salah has left a deep mark on both Egyptian and English football.
Salah began his professional career in 2010, initially playing for Al-Mokawloon.
Two years later, he moved to Basel, where he won two consecutive Swiss Super League titles. In 2014, he transferred to Chelsea for 11 million euros.
However, due to limited playing time, he was loaned out to Fiorentina and Roma. It was during this period that Salah began to make a serious name for himself.
HIS TRANSFER TO LIVERPOOL CHANGED HIS LIFE
In 2017, Salah joined Liverpool for 36.9 million euros, a move that changed his life. In his first season at Liverpool, he scored 38 goals in 322 appearances and broke the Premier League record for the most goals in a season.
In 2018, he led his team to the Champions League final. Unfortunately, Salah suffered an unlucky injury, and his team lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in that match.
However, in the following season, Liverpool, with the attacking trio of Firmino, Mane, and Salah, won the Champions League by defeating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the final.
Salah, who is also the club’s third all-time top scorer, has helped his team win the Premier League title twice after a long drought.
This season, Salah is leading both the Premier League’s top scorer and assist leader rankings. Throughout his career, the Egyptian star has won two PFA Player of the Year awards, three Premier League Golden Boots, Premier League Player of the Season, and Premier League Playmaker of the Season awards.
He finished third in the Best FIFA Men’s Player award in 2018 and 2021, and he placed fifth in the Ballon d’Or rankings in 2019 and 2022. Salah also won the Puskas Award in 2018 for his goal in the Merseyside derby.
HERO OF EGYPT
His international career was also at a legendary level. Salah won the CAF Most Promising African Talent award in 2012 due to his performance in the Summer Olympics.
He finished as a runner-up in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017 and 2021, and he helped Egypt qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Salah also won the CAF African Player of the Year award in 2017 and 2018.
With 58 goals for the Egyptian national team, he became the all-time top scorer for his country. Recognized for his achievements, Salah was included in Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in 2019.
EGIPTIAN MESSI
Salah, known for his goal-scoring ability, ball control, and speed, has recently made a name for himself with his playmaking skills.
A versatile forward, he is recognized for cutting inside from the right wing to take shots on goal. He is also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder or second striker.
Salah has acknowledged that Jürgen Klopp has been pivotal in his development at Liverpool. In an interview with ESPN, he stated,
“I play closer to the goal than I ever did at any other club.”
Early in his career, Salah earned the nickname “Egyptian Messi” from the Italian media, a title he has fully lived up to.
PERSONAL LIFE
Salah, who married Magi in 2013, has two daughters: Mekke, born in 2014, and Kayan, born in 2020.
A devout Muslim, the footballer celebrates his goals with a prostration, a gesture that has had a significant impact on the perception of Muslims in England, helping to change the public’s view of Muslim people.
Salah, who enjoys playing PlayStation, has mentioned that he particularly enjoys playing as Liverpool in FIFA.
During the 2018 Egyptian presidential election, over a million people expressed their love for him by crossing out both candidates’ names and writing Salah’s name instead, even though the votes were invalid.
The Egyptian star has sponsorship deals with major companies such as Adidas and Vodafone Egypt.
MORE THAN A FOOTBALLER, A MAN WITH A PURE HEART
Salah is also known for his charitable work. He has actively participated in renewal projects in his hometown of Nagrid, helping to fund the construction of a school and a hospital.
He donates money to assist with these projects. On one occasion, while his family was in Egypt, Salah’s family was robbed.
When his father considered suing the thief, Salah intervened, offering financial help to the thief and assisting him in finding a job. Salah has provided monthly allowances to more than 450 families and donated $300,000 to the government during the country’s economic crisis.
During the Gaza conflict, Salah called for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the Gaza Strip and for “massacres” and the “slaughter of innocent civilians” to stop.
He also made an undisclosed donation to support the Palestinian people.