Mohamed Salah: Early Life, Clubs, Family, Net Worth, Career and Stats

Born on June 15, 1992, in Egypt, Mohamed Salah, also known as Mo Salah, is a highly acclaimed professional footballer. He primarily plays as a right winger or forward for the Premier League club Liverpool and has the honor of captaining the Egypt national team. Salah is widely recognized as one of the top players of his generation and is celebrated as one of the greatest African footballers in history. His on-field attributes include exceptional finishing, impressive dribbling skills, and remarkable speed.

Beyond the world of football, Salah is a symbol of immense national pride in Egypt due to his remarkable accomplishments. His influence extends far beyond the field, as evidenced by his inclusion in Time magazine’s prestigious list of the 100 most influential people in 2019. Salah’s impact has been instrumental in elevating Liverpool’s popularity among Egyptians, earning him the affectionate title of the “Fourth Pyramid” in his home country. He enjoys widespread admiration across the Arab world and is often referred to as the “Pride of the Arabs.”

Early Life

Mohamed Salah Born in the humble village of Nagrig, Egypt, Mohamed Salah’s remarkable journey to football stardom began with the unwavering support of his close-knit family. His parents, both educators, instilled in him the values of hard work, sacrifice, and humility while emphasizing the importance of education.

Even in his early years, Salah displayed a natural talent for football, often seen chasing a ball through the dusty streets of Nagrig. His determination was evident as he spent countless hours honing his skills on the makeshift fields of his hometown. This strong foundation and relentless work ethic were instrumental in shaping Salah’s character and setting him on the path to success.

His football journey took him from Nagrig to Othmason Tanta and eventually to Al Mokawloon, a renowned team in Egypt. Throughout this journey, the unwavering support and guidance of his family played a crucial role in helping him reach the pinnacle of the sport.

Clubs: The Footballing Journey

Al Mokawloon

Mohamed Salah began his football journey in local youth teams, Ittihad Basyoun and Othmason Tanta, before catching the eye of scouts and joining Al Mokawloon’s youth team at the age of 14. Despite a challenging commute to training, he quickly moved up to the senior squad at just 15, requiring a special training and diet plan due to his young age. 

Salah made his senior team debut in the Egyptian Premier League in 2010, initially struggling to score but persevering. He became a regular player for Al Mokawloon, playing every game in the 2011-12 season before the league’s suspension due to the Port Said Stadium riot.

Basel

Mohamed Salah’s career took a significant turn in 2012 when he joined Swiss Super League club Basel. After impressing during a friendly match with the Egypt U-23 team, he signed a four-year contract with Basel in June. Initially facing challenges like a new language and the pressure of replacing a fan-favorite player, Salah gradually adapted. 

He scored his first goal for Basel in a league match against Lausanne and made his mark in European competitions, scoring crucial goals against Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in the Europa League. Despite their European campaign ending, Basel secured the Swiss Super League championship for the 2012-13 season and finished as runners-up in the Swiss Cup. Salah’s time at Basel marked a key stage in his development and prepared him for further success in his football career.

Chelsea

In January 2014, Chelsea signed Mohamed Salah from Basel for around £11 million, marking his arrival as the first Egyptian player at the London-based club. He made his Premier League debut in February, scoring his first goal for Chelsea against Arsenal in March. In the following season, there were concerns about his military service obligations in Egypt, but these issues were resolved. Salah struggled to secure a regular spot in the Chelsea lineup, receiving limited playing time and facing criticism from manager José Mourinho after a League Cup performance.

In February 2015, Chelsea loaned Salah to Fiorentina for 18 months as part of a transfer deal involving Juan Cuadrado. Salah quickly made an impact in Italy, scoring on his Serie A debut and contributing to Fiorentina’s success in the Europa League. He even helped Fiorentina beat Inter Milan and Juventus, showcasing his talent. At the end of the loan period, Fiorentina sought to make the move permanent, but Salah declined and joined Roma instead.

In the 2015-16 season, Salah continued his impressive performances during a season-long loan at Roma. He scored multiple goals in Serie A and the UEFA Champions League, including a double against former club Fiorentina. Salah’s 15 goals in 42 matches played a significant role in Roma’s third-place finish in Serie A, earning them a spot in the Champions League. His outstanding contributions led to him being named Roma’s Player of the Season for 2015-16.

Roma

In August 2016, Mohamed Salah made his move to AS Roma permanent for €15 million after a successful loan spell. He kicked off the 2016-17 season with a goal in a 4-0 victory over Udinese in the season opener. On November 6, he achieved a significant milestone, scoring his first club career hat-trick in a 3-0 win against Bologna. However, a ruptured ankle ligament sidelined him for part of December. Salah returned as a substitute in a 1-0 defeat against Juventus in December.

Following his return, Salah went through a two-month goal drought but broke it with a goal against Torino in a 4-1 victory on February 19. He also scored in the UEFA Europa League against Lyon in March. Although Roma won the second leg, they were eliminated from the competition on aggregate.

In the final game of the season, Salah was substituted for club legend Francesco Totti, who was playing his farewell match. Roma finished the Serie A season as runners-up, just four points behind champions Juventus. Salah’s contributions were significant, as he scored 19 goals across all competitions.

Liverpool

Mohamed Salah’s time at Liverpool has been nothing short of spectacular. In 2017, he joined the club in a record-breaking transfer for an initial fee of £36.5 million, and he quickly became an integral part of the team. Salah made an immediate impact, scoring on his Premier League debut against Watford and continuing to impress with his goal-scoring prowess. He shone in the UEFA Champions League, notably in the quarter-final matches against Manchester City, helping Liverpool advance.

Salah’s debut season at Liverpool was nothing short of legendary. He scored 32 Premier League goals, winning the Golden Boot, and netted 44 goals in all competitions. His remarkable season culminated in the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final, where he scored Liverpool’s first goal against Real Madrid. However, his performance was marred by an injury that forced him to leave the match early. Despite this setback, he was named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and received several other accolades for his outstanding contributions.

The following season saw Salah continuing his goal-scoring exploits. He scored his 50th Premier League goal for Liverpool in just 69 appearances and made history as the club won the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup. In February 2019, he scored his 50th Premier League goal and broke records for the fastest Liverpool player to reach this milestone.

In the 2019-2020 season, Salah was instrumental in Liverpool’s success, helping them secure the Premier League title. He achieved multiple milestones, including scoring his 100th goal for Liverpool in all competitions and becoming the fastest Liverpool player to reach 100 top-flight goals. Salah’s incredible run of form continued, and he was named England’s Men’s Footballer of the Year for the second time. Mohamed Salah jersey number is 11.

Mo Salah’s Scoring Prowess: Igniting Liverpool’s Attack

The 2020-2021 season brought more records for Salah, as he became the first Liverpool player to score in five consecutive Premier League openers. He scored his 100th Premier League goal for Liverpool and achieved a host of other milestones. His incredible performances earned him the Golden Boot for the third time.

Salah extended his contract with Liverpool in 2022, solidifying his commitment to the club. He maintained his goal-scoring form and broke numerous records, including becoming the highest goalscorer for an English side in the UEFA Champions League and Liverpool’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League. Salah’s exceptional season also saw him score in nine consecutive games at Anfield.

Despite his success, Liverpool narrowly missed out on UEFA Champions League qualification in the 2022-2023 season. Salah was widely praised for his performances throughout the campaign.

Mohamed Salah’s journey at Liverpool has been marked by exceptional goal-scoring feats, multiple Golden Boots, and numerous records, making him one of the most prolific and celebrated players in the club’s history.

The Present (2023)

In the 2023-24 season, Mohamed Salah received lucrative contract offers from Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad but remained committed to Liverpool. This season, he transitioned into a playmaker role on the field under manager Jürgen Klopp. He showcased his versatility, scoring his 200th and 201st league goals in the Merseyside derby and becoming the highest-scoring Premier League player in European competitions by overtaking Thierry Henry. Additionally, Salah achieved the feat of scoring in each of the first five home league matches of the season, a distinction held by only two other Liverpool players in history, Harry Chambers and John Aldridge.

Family

Mohamed Salah’s parents, Salah Ghaly and his mother had hoped for an academic career for their son but soon realized his natural talent for soccer. Salah began his journey in the sport by playing for El Mokawloon’s youth team. He has a younger brother, Nasr, who still resides in Egypt and is well-known in the country. The siblings share a close bond, with Mohamed actively participating in Nasr’s wedding.

In 2013, Salah married his wife, Maggi, and they have two daughters, Makka, born in 2014, and Kayan, born in 2020. Salah, a devout Muslim, celebrates his goals by performing the sujud, a form of prayer and gratitude to God. He has a penchant for playing football on his PlayStation and humorously admits that the video game version of himself is stronger than reality. Additionally, Salah’s favorite food is kushari, an Egyptian dish made from rice, pasta, lentils, and various toppings.

In an interesting turn of events, during the 2018 Egyptian presidential election, a significant number of voters chose to cross out the listed candidates’ names and write “Salah” instead on their ballot papers, highlighting his immense popularity in Egypt.

Mohamed Salah’s Net Worth

Mohamed Salah’s estimated net worth stands at approximately $90 million, according to sources like CelebrityNetWorth. He is among the top-earning soccer players, boasting a base salary of $24 million and supplementing his income with endorsements that rake in $10-13 million.

Salah’s endorsement deals feature prominent brands such as Adidas, Vodafone (Egypt), Falken Tires, and Uber. In addition to his impressive earnings, the Liverpool star possesses a remarkable collection of luxury cars. This collection includes vehicles like the Audi Q7 (valued at $55,800), Bentley Continental GT ($92,952), Lamborghini Aventador ($417,820), Mercedes-Benz SUV, Mercedes AMG GLE Coupe ($76,500), Porsche 911 Turbo S ($200,000), Bentley Bentayga ($177,000), and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster.

Career and Stats

Club:

International:

Mohamed Salah Injury

Mo Salah faced a hamstring injury while on international duty with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations in January. As of now, He’s fully fit and available to play.

Mohamed Salah: Achievements and Awards

Mohamed Salah has amassed a remarkable list of honors and awards throughout his career. Notably, he won the Swiss Super League twice with Basel in 2012-13 and 2013-14, and with Liverpool, he clinched the Premier League in the 2019-20 season, along with other significant trophies such as the FA Cup, EFL Cup, FA Community Shield, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.

Individually, Salah has received numerous accolades, including the CAF Most Promising Talent of the Year, UEFA Golden Boy, and Swiss Super League Player of the Year. He’s been named the BBC African Footballer of the Year twice and won the African Footballer of the Year award twice as well. Salah’s performance in the Premier League earned him the Premier League Golden Boot three times, and he was honored with the Premier League Player of the Season and Playmaker of the Season titles.

He’s also claimed the PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice, the FWA Footballer of the Year twice, and prestigious awards like the FIFA Puskás Award and the Laureus Sporting Inspiration Award. Furthermore, Salah has been recognized as one of the top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine and received regional awards like the Premier League Player of the Year by Northwest Football Awards.