logo
Egypt's Mo Salah reflects on career highlights, icons in Ballon d'Or interview - Talents Abroad

Egypt's Mo Salah reflects on career highlights, icons in Ballon d'Or interview - Talents Abroad

Al-Ahram Weekly19-07-2025
Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah offered rare insight into his footballing inspirations and career milestones during a rapid-fire interview published Friday by the official Ballon d'Or X account.
In the light-hearted exchange, Salah was asked to name the greatest African player in history. With a laugh, he replied, 'Me,' before adding, 'There are so many. I would say George Weah also. Didier [Drogba], Eto'o, and George Weah.'
Now 32, Salah has been a talismanic figure at Liverpool since joining from AS Roma in 2017. Widely considered one of the Premier League's all-time greats, he has scored over 245 goals and provided 113 assists in 401 appearances for the Reds.
Is Mohamed Salah the greatest African player in history? 👑
We challenged the Egypt and Liverpool star with rapid questions — no time to think, just speak.
⚡ Stay until the end — a few of his answers might surprise you.#ballondor #salah #rapidquestions pic.twitter.com/zVWMjfbtfq — Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) July 18, 2025
His silverware haul with the club includes two Premier League titles (2019–20, 2024–25), the UEFA Champions League (2018–19), the FA Cup, the League Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup.
Salah is also the Premier League's all-time highest-scoring African player, having surpassed Drogba's record of 104 goals. He has won the Premier League Golden Boot four times (2017–18, 2018–19, 2021–22, 2024–25) and was recently named Premier League Player of the Season for a second time, becoming only the fifth player to earn the honour more than once.
Asked which player he most enjoyed playing with, Salah said: 'I didn't play with him in my peak, but I would say [Eden] Hazard.' As for players he wished he had played alongside, he named Steven Gerrard and Thierry Henry.
His favourite coach? Luciano Spalletti, his former manager at Roma.
When asked about his favourite goal, Salah struggled to choose: 'Man City home… or Man City also Champions League.'
Despite a career of dizzying highs, Salah insisted he has no regrets: 'Oh, biggest regret? No, I don't have one. It is what it is. You take it and you learn.'
Asked to name the toughest defender he had faced, Salah said: 'There are too many. I can't name one. Even Ramos? He's a very good player. But there are too many.'
As for the trophy that meant the most to him, he didn't hesitate: the Champions League.
Salah's reflections — at once candid and humble — reaffirm his legacy not just as one of Africa's greatest footballers, but as a global icon whose passion for the game continues to inspire.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Follow us on:
Facebook
Instagram
Whatsapp
Short link:
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Replicas of Tutankhamun's mummy and sarcophagus gifted to museum in Dakar
Replicas of Tutankhamun's mummy and sarcophagus gifted to museum in Dakar

Watani

time13 hours ago

  • Watani

Replicas of Tutankhamun's mummy and sarcophagus gifted to museum in Dakar

Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration, Badr Abdelatty, has gifted a replica of the mummy and sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun to the Museum of African Civilisations in the Senegalese capital, Dakar. The gifting ceremony was attended by the Senegalese Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Khady Gaye, along with a number of senior officials. The event was held as part of the celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Egypt and Senegal. Mr Abdelatty expressed his pride in the deep historical ties between Egypt and Senegal, noting that the Egyptian gift reflects mutual appreciation and a shared commitment to strengthening cultural and civilisational exchange among African peoples. He affirmed that the choice of Tutankhamun—one of the most prominent symbols of Pharaonic civilisation—carries a strong message about the depth of Egypt's cultural heritage and Cairo's keenness to share it with its African brothers. He also noted Egypt's anticipation of the upcoming inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), expressing Egypt's openness to cooperation with museums and cultural institutions across African countries to further reinforce bridges of communication and African integration. For her part, the Senegalese Minister expressed her country's appreciation for the generous Egyptian gesture which mirrors the depth of the cultural and historical relations between the two countries. She said that displaying the replica in the Museum of African Civilisations embodies the spirit of solidarity among African peoples and highlights the cultural and developmental dimensions of cooperation between Egypt and Senegal. Watani International 27 July 2025 Comments comments Tags: Iman ShawqyTutankhamun mummy & sarcophagus

Bayern agree deal to sign Liverpool winger Diaz: reports - World
Bayern agree deal to sign Liverpool winger Diaz: reports - World

Al-Ahram Weekly

time21 hours ago

  • Al-Ahram Weekly

Bayern agree deal to sign Liverpool winger Diaz: reports - World

German champions Bayern Munich have agreed to sign Liverpool winger Luis Diaz in a £65.5 million ($88 million) deal, according to multiple reports on Sunday. Bayern had an initial offer of £59 million rejected by the Premier League champions last week, but their improved bid looks set to bring the Colombia international to the Allianz Arena. Diaz has reportedly been given permission to leave Liverpool's pre-season tour of Asia in order to complete a medical with Bayern. He joined Liverpool from Porto in January 2022 and won the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup during his time at Anfield. The 28-year--old made 50 appearances and scored 17 goals in all competitions last season as Arne Slot's team clinched the English title for the first time in five years. Diaz was left out of Liverpool's 4-2 friendly defeat against AC Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday as speculation mounted over his future. "In Lucho's (Diaz's) situation, there's a lot of rumours around him lately and I cannot go into that," Slot said after the Milan match. "He's training really well with us but we have decided for now not to play him yet. "I'm used to talking to most of my players on a regular basis. I cannot comment much more about that." Diaz's impending signing gives Bayern a quality replacement for Germany forward Jamal Musiala, who has been ruled out for a "long period" after he suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle at the Club World Cup this month. Liverpool have been busy in the transfer window, bolstering their attacking options with expensive swoops for Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz and Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike. Defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez arrived from Leverkusen and Bournemouth respectively, while goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili joined from Valencia. The Reds are also believed to be interested in making a bid for Newcastle's £150 million-rated striker Alexander Isak. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:

Six days to go: Angola boss Gonçalves hails CAF for championing homegrown talent with CHAN
Six days to go: Angola boss Gonçalves hails CAF for championing homegrown talent with CHAN

CAF

timea day ago

  • CAF

Six days to go: Angola boss Gonçalves hails CAF for championing homegrown talent with CHAN

As the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 edges closer, Angola's head coach Pedro Gonçalves is leading his team with quiet confidence and deep reflection of his six years in charge of the Palancas Negras. Celebrating six years at the helm of the Palancas Negras, the Portuguese tactician believes Angola is primed to showcase its local talent despite facing challenges of player availability and group-stage pressure. In this exclusive interview with Gonçalves delves into Angola's CHAN qualification journey, the transformative power of the competition for local players, and his optimism about the future of football in the COSAFA region. He also acknowledges the difficult task ahead in a group that includes CHAN heavyweights Morocco and DR Congo, as well as co-hosts Kenya and regional rivals Zambia. With a mix of pragmatism and belief, Gonçalves sees CHAN not just as a tournament but as a platform for growth and recognition for African-based players. Here is the full Q&A: Q: Coach, you are preparing for yet another TotalEnergies CAF CHAN tournament. What are your views on the current state of the team? I have the privilege of celebrating six years as Angola's national team coach. The journey has been long and enjoyable. Our progress since 2019 has been substantial, and this will be the second consecutive CHAN that I am proud to have qualified Angola for. As a result of our development in recent years, Angola has become a goldmine for world football, and many of our most prominent players are now playing abroad, which means they won't be available for this competition. Nevertheless, I have always emphasized—and continue to stress to the players—the great importance of CHAN, as it serves both as a window of opportunity for local players and as a barometer for the entire internal football structure. Q: What do you make of the team's performance in the qualifiers? The fact that in 2024 we were the national team with the biggest rise in the FIFA rankings worldwide allowed us to skip the first qualifying round. On one hand, that was a good thing, but on the other, it meant we had less time to work and develop directly with the locally based players. We ended up playing the qualifier against Lesotho, which is always a very competitive opponent. I believe we were rightful winners of the tie, which was practically decided in the first leg with our 2-goal away victory. In the second leg at home, we were able to manage the squad and give other players the chance to compete. Despite losing that match due to an entirely unnecessary penalty, we always controlled the tie and were never in danger of missing qualification. Q: What makes this TotalEnergies CAF CHAN tournament important for Angolan Football? CHAN is of vital importance in boosting local talent. The vast majority of African national teams play mostly (or even entirely) with players who are based outside their countries. I think CAF brilliantly created a very interesting and attractive competitive space that opens the door for locally based players who aspire to reach higher sporting levels. CHAN provides visibility for local talent. Q: What have you made of the growth and competitiveness of African football? In recent seasons, CAF has implemented a series of initiatives that have increasingly raised the quality and visibility of African competitions. Africa holds the future talent of global football, and as such, interest from the global football world is growing. This is evident in the attention given to African competitions—not only from outside the continent but also from within, as there is growing enthusiasm and appreciation for what is being produced in African football. Q: Looking at your group, what do you make of your opponents and your chances of going to the KO stages? We are clearly in the most competitive group. Looking at the five teams in the group, only two have won CHAN twice—Morocco and the DRC—and they are clearly the favorites to qualify. Then there's the host nation, Kenya, which has made a significant investment. Zambia and ourselves will be seen as the 'underdogs,' but I believe we will fight relentlessly for a place in the quarterfinals. We may not be the favorites, but we will certainly have something to say in that fight. Q: What goals are you looking to set for your team in this competition? Considering that in the last edition we finished second in a group of three and didn't qualify—due to two draws in two matches—having the chance to play four games this time is already a great opportunity for this group of local players. We will fight for a place in the quarterfinals, which would be a fantastic goal to achieve given the strength of the teams in our group. Q: No Southern African nation has lifted the title. What do you make of this statistic and the chances of Southern African nations at the tournament? The progress of the COSAFA region has been gradual and significant. If we consider that seven of the teams in the upcoming AFCON are from the COSAFA region, that's already a sign of growth. However, we must now aim for the next level, which is winning titles in Africa. South Africa and Zambia have already done so in the AFCON. Let's see which team from our region will be the first to do it in CHAN. The talent is there, and with time, the allocation of more resources, and improvements in the development process, I believe it will become a reality.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store