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

Al-Ahram Weekly

3 days ago

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.)
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