Mo Salah’s Last Dance: Egypt Hope Talisman Can Deliver

Salah chases first World Cup win in likely final tournament

Mohamed Salah, Egypt’s talisman and all-time great, carries the nation’s hopes into a manageable Group G as he plays what could be his final World Cup.

After leaving Liverpool with 257 goals and 2 Premier League titles, Salah now looks to lead Egypt past Belgium, New Zealand, and Iran in Group G...

Mohamed Salah has unfinished business heading into what may be his last World Cup, as Egypt’s talisman looks to secure the Pharaohs’ first-ever victory at the tournament.

Egypt dominate African football with a record seven continental crowns, yet they’ve failed to make a significant impact on the world stage across their three prior World Cup appearances.

Salah was set to head into the 2018 World Cup playing the best football of his career.

After netting 44 goals in his first season at Liverpool, a campaign that transformed him from a promising winger into a global star, Salah picked up a serious shoulder injury in the Champions League final following a contentious challenge from Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos.

He made it to Russia despite the injury and managed two goals in two games, but couldn’t stop Egypt from crashing out in the group stage after losses to the hosts, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia.

Now 33, Salah enters this World Cup at the opposite end of his Liverpool journey.

Salah was visibly emotional multiple times on Sunday as his nine-year run at Anfield came to an end. He leaves with 257 goals, two Premier League titles, and a Champions League winners’ medal.

“We put this club back where it belongs,” he said in his farewell message to Merseyside.

His impact in the Premier League reached far beyond football itself.

In 2019, Salah was named to Time’s list of the 100 most influential people, described as “an iconic figure for Egyptians, Scousers and Muslims the world over.”

He has leveraged that platform to advocate for gender equality in the Arab world and to call for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza after the Israeli airstrikes in October 2023.

‘Best in the world’

Now, Egypt is looking to Salah to create a defining international moment that’s missing from his otherwise stellar career.

He’s ended up on the losing side twice in Africa Cup of Nations finals, in 2017 and 2021.

“For me, Salah is the best player in the world,” Egypt forward Mahmoud Hassan, better known as Trezeguet, said.

“His presence is extremely important for us. Not only as a star, but also as a leader who gives us confidence and strength.”

Salah and former Aston Villa forward Trezeguet combined for 14 of Egypt’s 20 goals during qualifying.

Still, Salah’s impact dipped in the Premier League this season, speeding up his departure from Liverpool.

A year earlier, he’d been given a new two-year deal after producing one of the best individual campaigns in the club’s history to help secure the league title.

Tensions between Liverpool’s “Egyptian King” and manager Arne Slot simmered for months, especially after Salah was left out of the starting lineup for three straight games in December.

Injuries to other players saw him back in the starting lineup after AFCON, but Salah managed just 12 goals in 41 games - easily the lowest tally of his Liverpool career.

Even so, both Salah’s personal form and Egypt’s recent results give reason for optimism heading into Group G, where they face Belgium, New Zealand, and Iran in a favorable draw.

He scored in each of his first four AFCON matches before suffering another setback against Senegal, losing to former Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane in the semi-finals.

 

Salah 🇪🇬#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Kv4lsYuDB1

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) September 6, 2025

Salah sat out the March international window, during which Hossam Hassan’s side beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 and held Spain to a 0-0 draw.

“I believe he will achieve something with the Pharaohs at the 2026 World Cup,” former Egypt captain Ahmed Fathi said.

“I played with him since the early days of his international career - we were together at the London 2012 Olympics and the 2018 World Cup. He always made the difference, and I hope he will do it again in the United States.“