Mohamed Salah: The Egyptian King of Football

Mohamed Salah is one of the most prolific forwards of all time, with trickery on the ball and dangerous left foot. He is known for his speed, dribbling, and goal-scoring ability, Salah has redefined the modern winger’s role.

Mo Salah is often regarded as one of the greatest African footballers alongside Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Jay Jay Okocha.

The Egyptian is fondly compared to Arjen Robben and Lionel Messi because of his sweet left foot. Join Footballers Biographies as we explore the exciting adventure of Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian King.

Player Profile – Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly

Mohamed Salah is an Egyptian professional footballer renowned for his speed and goal-scoring prowess. Born on June 15, 1992, he has played for clubs like Chelsea and Roma before joining Liverpool in 2017.

Salah’s achievements include multiple titles, such as the UEFA Champions League. He’s also known for his philanthropy and represents Egypt internationally.

Player Profile Overview

Mohamed Salah’s Early Life and Background

Born on June 15, 1992, in the small village of Nagrig in the Gharbia Governorate of Egypt, Mohamed Salah’s early life was shaped by modesty and simplicity.

Growing up in a tight-knit community, Salah was immersed in a culture that valued family and perseverance. His passion for football was evident from a young age, as he spent countless hours playing in the streets and fields of Nagrig, dreaming of one day becoming a professional footballer.

Salah’s family played a crucial role in nurturing his early passion for football. His father, a devoted fan of the sport, encouraged Salah to pursue his dreams despite the many challenges that lay ahead.

Salah’s Playing Style, Strengths and Skills

Mohamed Salah’s playing style is defined by his blistering speed and exceptional dribbling ability. He possesses an uncanny knack for navigating through tight defenses, leaving defenders in his wake. His agility and quick changes of direction make him a constant threat on the counter-attack.

A prolific goal-scorer, Salah’s finishing techniques are diverse and precise. Whether it’s a thunderous strike from outside the box or a delicate chip over the goalkeeper, Salah’s repertoire of finishes is vast. His composure in front of goal and instinctive positioning are hallmarks of his game.

Beyond his goal-scoring prowess, Salah is also a visionary playmaker. His ability to deliver incisive passes and create opportunities for his teammates adds another dimension to his play. His footballing intelligence and awareness make him a key orchestrator in the attacking third.

Mohamed Salah’s Career Highlights: Rise Through Egyptian Football

Mohamed Salah began his football career in the youth teams of local clubs Ittihad Basyoun and Othmason Tanta, due to the long distance to training, Salah often missed school. At 15, first-team manager Mohamed Radwan promoted him to the first team, implementing a special diet and training regimen due to his young age.

Mohamed Salah’s prodigious talent quickly set him apart from his peers. His speed, agility, and uncanny ability to read the game captivated coaches and scouts. As he progressed through the ranks, it became clear that Salah was destined for greatness.

Salah made his first-team debut on 3 May 2010 in the Egyptian Premier League. By the 2010-11 season, he became a regular player but initially struggled to score, leading to emotional moments in the dressing room which motivated him to improve.

He scored his first goal on 25 December 2010 in a match against Al Ahly. Salah remained a key player throughout the 2011-12 season. However, following the Port Said Stadium riot in February 2012, the Egyptian Premier League was suspended, and the season was eventually cancelled in March.

European Adventure Begins: Moving to FC Basel

Basel had been interested in Mohamed Salah and arranged a friendly match with Egypt’s under-23 team on March 16, 2012, where Salah scored twice, leading to a 4-3 win for Egypt.

Basel then invited him for a week’s training and signed him on a four-year contract starting June 15, 2012. This move marked his first foray into European football.

Initially, Salah struggled to settle due to language barriers and being a replacement for Xherdan Shaqiri. He made his official debut in a UEFA Champions League match on August 8 and four days later he made his league debut for the club.

Salah’s first league goal for Basel came a week later and his first goal in European competitions came in the UEFA Europa League goal in the quarter-finals on April 11, 2013.

Mo Salah also scored against future employers Chelsea, although Basel lost the tie 5-2 on aggregate. Despite this, he won the 2012-13 Swiss Super League and finished as runners-up in the Swiss Cup.

Winning Consecutive League Titles with Basel

Mohamed Salah made an immediate impact by scoring in his first league game of the season against Aarau on 13 July 2013. Salah continued his impressive form by scoring twice against Bulgarian champions PFC Ludogorets Razgrad.

In the Champions League group stage, he scored the equalizer in a 2–1 away win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. He also scored the winning goal in a 1–0 victory over Chelsea at St. Jakob-Park in the second leg, despite his impressive performances, Basel was eliminated in the group stage.

Domestically, Salah maintained his strong form, scoring four goals in 18 league matches, including a double against title rivals Young Boys. His contributions were vital in helping Basel secure their fifth consecutive league title.

Transfer to Chelsea FC: Challenges and Triumphs at Chelsea

In 2014, Salah’s burgeoning career took him to the English Premier League, where he signed with Chelsea FC. The move was met with great expectations, but Salah faced significant challenges. The intense competition for places and the physicality of the Premier League demanded rapid adaptation.

Mohamed Salah became the first Egyptian to join Chelsea who fended off interest from Liverpool, whom he will eventually join years later.

Salah made his debut on 8 February in a 3-0 win over Newcastle United and scored his first goal for Chelsea in a 6-0 victory against Arsenal. However, limited playing opportunities marked Salah’s time at Chelsea.

Despite flashes of brilliance, he struggled to secure a regular starting position. This period tested his resilience and resolve. However, Salah remained undeterred, determined to prove his worth.

Mohamed Salah’s First Premier League Medal

Before the 2014–15 season, Mohamed Salah’s future with Chelsea was uncertain due to reports that he might be forced to return to Egypt for military service.

This arose after his registration for an education scheme was rescinded by the Egyptian Minister of Higher Education. However, Salah was spared from military service after a meeting with key Egyptian officials. He changed his squad number from 15 to 17 for the season.

During the season, Salah was seldom used, making only a few appearances across the Premier League, Champions League, and cup competitions without scoring any goals. Despite his limited playtime before being loaned to Fiorentina, Mourinho assured that Salah would receive a replica winner’s medal for his contributions that season.

Loan Spells: Fiorentina and Roma

On February 2, 2015, Chelsea loaned Mohamed Salah to Fiorentina for 18 months, part of a deal involving Juan Cuadrado moving to Chelsea. Salah debuted on February 8, wearing the number 74 to honour victims of the Port Said Stadium riot.

He quickly made an impact, scoring and assisting in his first start on February 14. Salah continued his success, scoring his first European goal against Tottenham and crucial goals in Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

Despite Fiorentina’s interest in a permanent move, Salah joined Roma for the 2015–16 season. At Roma, Salah wore the number 11 shirt and debuted in a 1–1 draw against Hellas Verona. He scored consistently, including crucial goals against Sassuolo, Fiorentina, and Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.

Mo Salah helped Roma secure a top-three finish in Serie A, scoring 15 goals in 42 matches. His performances earned him Roma’s 2015–16 Player of the Season award.

Mohamed Salah’s Permanent Move to AS Roma

Roma signed Mohamed Salah permanently for €15 million and he continued to impress by scoring his first goal of the season in a 4–0 win against Udinese on 20 August.

After Mo Salah netted his first club career hat-trick in a 3–0 win over Bologna, he ruptured his ankle ligament sidelined him for the first half of December.

He returned on 17 December in a 1–0 loss to Juventus. After a two-month goal drought, he scored on in a 4–1 victory over Torino. Salah also scored in a 4–2 defeat to Lyon in the Europa League, but Roma was eliminated 5–4 on aggregate despite winning the second leg 2–1.

In the final game of the season, Salah was substituted for Francesco Totti, who played his last game for Roma, in a 3–2 win over Genoa. Roma finished second in the league, four points behind Juventus, with Salah scoring 19 goals in all competitions.

Return to the Premier League with Liverpool: Transfer to Liverpool FC

Mohammed Salah transferred to Premier League club Liverpool, signing a long-term contract with an initial fee of £36.5m, potentially rising to £43m, making it a club record. He received the number 11 shirt, previously worn by Roberto Firmino, who switched to number 9.

Mo Salah officially joined the club on July 1, becoming Liverpool’s first Egyptian player. He became a member of Liverpool’s devasting and prolific forward line that included Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

He scored on his Premier League debut against Watford in a 3–3 draw and netted his first Anfield goal in a Champions League play-off win against 1899 Hoffenheim.

Salah continued his impressive form, scoring and assisting in a 4–0 victory over Arsenal, earning Liverpool’s Player of the Month award for August. Mo Salah scored twice in a 7–0 Champions League win over Maribor, contributing to Liverpool’s largest away win in the competition by an English club.

Premier League Golden Boot and PFA Player of the Season

Mo Salah became the joint-second fastest player to reach 20 goals for Liverpool, achieving this milestone in 26 appearances. Salah scored four goals in a 5–0 win over Watford, marking his first hat-trick for Liverpool.

This performance broke the record for the most goals scored in a debut season for Liverpool and made him the leading goalscorer in Europe’s top five leagues. He surpassed Lionel Messi and Harry Kane earning great praise from Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.

He was awarded the PFA Players’ Player of the Year on April 22, 2018, and was named in the PFA Team of the Year. Salah scored twice in a 5-2 semi-final first-leg win against Roma, becoming the first African and Liverpool player to score 10 goals in a single Champions League campaign.

With 43 goals across all competitions, he surpassed Roger Hunt’s record, becoming Liverpool’s second-highest single-season scorer, only behind Ian Rush.

Salah also broke the Premier League era club record, surpassing Robbie Fowler and Fernando Torres. Liverpool defeated Roma 7-6 on aggregate, reaching the final for the first time in eleven years.

That season, Mohamed Salah became the Premier League’s all-time top scorer for a 38-game season with 32 goals, earning the Golden Boot. However, that record was broken by Erling Haaland who scored 36 goals in 35 Premier League games in his debut season for Man City.

Mo Salah’s Wins the UEFA Champions League

Mohamed Salah signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool, which manager Jürgen Klopp highlighted as a significant commitment to the club.

Salah was shortlisted for both the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year and the UEFA Forward of the Season, finishing third and second, respectively. He was also named on the shortlist for the Best FIFA Men’s Player, coming in third.

Salah controversially won the 2018 FIFA Puskás Award for his goal in the Merseyside derby, sparking online protests. Mo Salah ranked sixth in the 2018 Ballon d’Or and scored a hat-trick against Bournemouth. He scored the decisive goal against Napoli, helping Liverpool advance in the Champions League.

By January 2019, Salah had reached 50 Premier League goals in 72 appearances, becoming the joint-fourth fastest player to do so. Salah scored his 50th Premier League goal for Liverpool, setting a new club record.

Later, he scored a notable goal against Chelsea and made his 100th appearance for Liverpool, breaking another club record with 69 goals. He shared the 2018-2019 Premier League Golden Boot with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sadio Mane.

On 1 June, Salah scored in the Champions League final, helping Liverpool secure a 2–0 win over Tottenham. His goal was the second fastest in a Champions League final only behind Paolo Maldini‘s effort against Liverpool in 2005.

Mohamed Salah Leads Liverpool to First Title in 30 Years

During the 2019-20 season, Mohamed Salah played a crucial role in Liverpool’s successes. He scored in the opening Premier League match against Norwich City and delivered the decisive penalty in the UEFA Super Cup win over Chelsea.

In December, Salah finished fifth in the Ballon d’Or voting, celebrated his 100th Premier League appearance, and received the Golden Ball award at the FIFA Club World Cup. He scored significant goals against bitter Northwest rivals Manchester United.

Salah helped Liverpool set a record for 22 consecutive home wins and made history by beating every Premier League team in a season.

The Egyptian King continued his impressive form by reaching 70 Premier League goals in 100 appearances. He became the first Liverpool player since Michael Owen to score 20 goals in all competitions for three consecutive seasons. His performances helped Liverpool win their first league title in 30 years.

The Egyptian King is the Africa’s Highest Goalscorer in Premier League History

Mohamed Salah continued to break records and achieve milestones for Liverpool. In the 2020-21 season, he became the first Liverpool player to score in four consecutive league openers.

He also set records for scoring at Old Trafford in two different games in a season. Mo Salah scored his 100th goal for the club against Brentford and became the fifth Liverpool player to score over 20 goals in four consecutive seasons.

Salah became the fastest player in the club’s history to score 100 goals and became the club’s record scorer in the Champions League.

He also surpassed Didier Drogba as the highest-scoring African player in Premier League history and won his third Golden Boot which he shared with Tottenham forward Son Heung-Min and the Playmaker of the Season award.

Salah’s exceptional performances helped Liverpool secure the EFL Cup and FA Cup, and narrowly miss out on a historic quadruple.

Salah Becomes the Highest Scoring Red in Premier League History

Mohamed Salah continued to make significant strides for Liverpool after signing a contract extension in July 2022. He showcased his scoring prowess early on with goals in both the FA Community Shield and the Premier League opener.

He scored on the opening day of the season to equal the record of scoring on six consecutive opening days set by Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Alan Shearer.

Salah scored a blistering hat-trick in the Champions League against Rangers, breaking records for the fastest hat-trick in the competition’s history and becoming Liverpool’s top scorer in European competitions.

He surpassed club legend Ian Rush as Liverpool’s all-time greatest goal scorer in the Premier League, cementing his place as one of Liverpool’s all-time greats.

Amidst tempting offers from Al-Ittihad, Salah reaffirmed his commitment to Liverpool and adapted to a playmaker role under manager Jürgen Klopp. He continued to rewrite history with goals in the Merseyside derby, surpassing Thierry Henry’s record as the highest-scoring Premier League player in European competitions.

In the just concluded 2023-24 season, Salah’s consistent performances earned him Liverpool’s Player of the Season and African highest goalscorer in the Premier League.

Mohamed Salah’s International Career

Mo Salah started his international career by representing Egypt in both the under-20 and under-23 national teams. He played in the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup, scoring a penalty against Argentina in the round of sixteen, although Egypt lost 2–1.

Mohamed Salah was also part of the Egypt squad for the 2012 Summer Olympics, where he scored in all three group-stage matches.

He scored Egypt’s second goal in a 3–2 defeat to Brazil, the equalizer in a 1–1 draw against New Zealand, and opened the scoring in a 3–1 victory over Belarus. Egypt advanced to the knockout stage but were eliminated after a 3–0 quarter-final loss to Japan on August 4, 2012.

Making His Pharoah’s Debut

He made his debut for the Egypt national team in 2011 and scored his first goal against Niger in the 2011 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. In the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, Salah’s performances helped Egypt reach the final, where he was a standout player, earning a place in the CAF Team of the Tournament.

After Suffering an injury from a Sergio Ramos tackle in the Champions League final, Salah participated in the 2018 World Cup, scoring two goals in three matches.

Salah’s leadership role expanded in 2019 when he was appointed captain of the Egyptian national team. However, the North African giants failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He continued to break records, such as becoming Egypt’s highest goalscorer in World Cup qualification matches in 2023.

Mohamed Salah’s Personal Life

Mohamed Salah married his wife Maggi in 2013. They have two daughters, Makka, born in 2014, named after the holy city of Mecca, and Kayan, born in 2020.

Salah, a devout Muslim, celebrates his goals by performing sujud, a form of Islamic prayer. He describes it as a way of thanking God and praying for success, a practice he has followed since childhood.

Off the field, Salah enjoys playing football on PlayStation and humorously admits that his video game avatar might be stronger than he is in real life. His favourite food is kushari, an Egyptian dish consisting of rice, pasta, lentils, and various toppings such as spiced tomatoes, chickpeas, and onions.

Idols and Influence

During his childhood, Mohamed Salah idolized several football legends, including Brazilian forward Ronaldo, French midfielder Zinedine Zidane, and Italian playmaker Francesco Totti. These players inspired him and influenced his development and passion for the game.

Philanthropic Activities

In his hometown of Nagrig, where poverty is prevalent, Salah has donated funds for the construction of a school, hospital, Al-Azhar institute, and ambulance unit.

Salah’s charitable endeavours extend beyond Nagrig. He has supported over 450 families with monthly allowances and donated approximately $300,000 during Egypt’s economic crisis.

Following a tragic fire at Abu Sefein Church in Giza, Egypt, Salah expressed condolences and donated three million Egyptian pounds towards its reconstruction.

During the 2023 Israel–Hamas conflict, Salah used his platform to call for humanitarian aid to Gaza and condemned the violence against civilians. He also made an undisclosed donation to support the Palestinian people.

Conclusion

Mohamed Salah’s journey from the streets of Nagrig to the pinnacle of world football is nothing short of remarkable. His story is one of talent, hard work, and unwavering determination. He has overcome numerous challenges to become one of the sport’s brightest stars.

Salah’s impact on football and beyond is profound. He has redefined what it means to be a modern winger, inspired millions, and used his platform for good. The Egyptian King’s legacy will endure, continuing to inspire future generations of footballers and fans alike.