Flair Magazine
26
Now that Egypt’s very own Mohamed Salah was crowned African Player of the Year, how much do you know the Liverpool superstar?
The jewel in the crown of the Egyptian football, Mohamed Salah, was also voted best player for 2017, in a poll conducted by ESPN. The poll’s results reported Salah was ahead of Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentina and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, winning 70 percent of the vote.
With videos of English fans cheering for Mohamed Salah sweeping social media, Egyptian citizens—in Egypt and abroad—have earned their bragging rights.
Let’s get up-close and personal with Salah—beyond the hype and limelight.
Here’s what you don’t know about Mohamed Salah:
- Born in 1992, in Basyoun, Northern Cairo. At a young age, he followed European football and his boyhood idols were Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo.
- Those who know Salah—close friends and fans—will describe him as down to earth. And rightfully so! On his wedding day, he invited all his relatives and friends from his village.
- Mo Salah is lightening fast. He is known for his speed, dribbling skills, persistence, ball control, as well as his ability to strike a balance between speed and strength. Salah was the fastest player in the Premier League with an average top speed of 20.7 kilometer per hour.
- “He’s young, he’s fast, he’s creative, he’s enthusiastic. When we analyzed him he looks the kind of humble personality on the pitch, ready to work for the team.” Said Joe Mourinho of Mohamed Salah. He went on to say Salah shares similar qualities with world-renowned players, such as Gareth Bale and Arjen Robben. His skills, pace and versatility earned him the nickname the “Egyptian Messi”.
- Salah made headlines in July 2014, when he was going to serve in the compulsory military service. Luckily, the Prime Mister, Minister for Education and the Head Coach of the Egyptian national team resolved the issue—and Salah was back in the game.
By: Mohamed Taky
