Discover the remarkable journey of Mohammed Salah, the renowned Egyptian football sensation, in this comprehensive biography. From his humble beginnings in Nagrig, Egypt, to his rise as a global football icon, Salah’s story is an epic tale of determination, talent, and triumph. Join us as Goal 90 delves into the life and career of this extraordinary athlete, exploring his early years, breakthrough moments, and enduring legacy in the world of football.
Family and Early Life
Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly was born on June 15, 1992, in Nagrig, Egypt. His mother was not well-known, and his father’s name is Salah Ghaly. He grew up in Nagrig with his brother Nasr Salah, and he’s the most famous person from there, also known as the ‘son of Nagrig.’
Salah started loving football when he was 7 years old and played it with his brother. Love for the game was deeply rooted in him and there wasn’t a moment where he didn’t think of anything related to football. He also enjoyed watching Champions League games and admired players like Brazilian Ronaldo, Zidane, and Totti.
Parents Unwavering Support
Salah Ghaly is Mohamed Salah’s dad and like Mo, he likes football and helps him with his football career. That’s why Salah always thanks his dad for helping him reach the pinnacle of football. Salah says his dad always told him how important it is to make sacrifices, like traveling for 4 hours to practice when he was a kid and he has carried this philosophy further into his life.
Not much is known about Mo Salah’s mother but she is said to have been an important pillar in Salah’s journey to the helm of footballing greatness. Although she did go trending once for telling her son off when he hugged a woman who happened to be a fan. Salah’s mom wasn’t happy because she thought it may have hurt his wife’s feelings.
It is very easy for footballers to get swayed and compromise on their values. However, Mohamed Salah’s parents are great exemplars in promoting good morals and values.
Early Years in Football
Salah got serious about playing football for his local team, Ittihad Basyoun, then he played for Othmason Tanta for a bit. His talent was easily noticed by those around him and little by little, he gained more momentum. After that, he started his professional career with El Mokawloon, where he broke records for fun.
What’s astonishing to note is that Mo Salah was just 14 years old when he started his professional career with Al Mokawloon, thanks to his almost-divine speed and dribbling. His pace was simply illegal for a 14-year-old to have as most of his peers could barely differentiate between him and a marathon runner.
Mo Salah was being watched closely by scouts from the region as well as those from Europe. His almost Messiesque style of play had the scouts befuddled. He did so well at El Mokawloon that he caught the attention of FC Basel in Switzerland and the rest as they say … is history.
The Ascent to Stardom
Salah impressed Chelsea F.C. while playing for Basel and joined them in 2014. He also played for Fiorentina and Roma on loan. However, he fell out of favor under Jose Mourinho, the then manager of Chelsea, and was sold to Roma on a permanent deal.
At Roma, he helped the team finish second in Serie A in his first season and was the league’s top scorer in 2015/2016. Despite signing with Roma, Salah moved to Liverpool in 2017 as he simply could not ignore that one chance to light up the Premier League.
He transitioned from a winger to a forward and won awards, including the Premier League Golden Boot in 2017/2018. Salah led Liverpool to win the 2019 UEFA Champions League and won the Premier League title in 2020. He is currently the face of Liverpool’s success in recent years and is heavily included in discussions pertinent to Liverpool’s greatest players of all time. Such has been the journey of that young boy from Nagrig.
Who is Mohammed Salah’s wife?
Mo Salah is currently married to an Egyptian woman who goes by the name Magi Sadeq. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and obtained her alma mater from a University in Alexandria. Together, they have two little daughters who go by the names Makka (born in 2014) and Kayan (born in 2020).
It is also reported that Mo and Magi were classmates in elementary school as well as high school and already shared a liking for each other from those days.
Charity and Philanthropy
Salah is helping improve Nagrig, his hometown where many people are poor. He gave money to build a school and hospital, and he’s also supporting the construction of an Al-Azhar institute and ambulance unit. Salah’s dad said Salah didn’t want any money for the project.
During the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Salah called for humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip and for the violence against innocent people and civilians to stop. He also gave an undisclosed amount of money to support the Palestinian people.
Another class act coming from Mo Salah was when a fire broke out at Abu Sefein Church in Giza, Egypt, on August 13, 2022. Salah expressed his condolences online and donated three million Egyptian pounds to help rebuild the church.
Moreover, Mohamed Salah has done a remarkable job in helping more than 450 families by giving them monthly allowances and he also helped the government by giving approximately $300,000 when the country was experiencing an economic crisis.
Lifestyle and Personality
Outside of football, Salah isn’t too different from you and I. He likes to play football games on his PlayStation, mainly Fifa, and has joked that “the Salah in the video game is better than the real one.”
We all know he has a terrific physique but what isn’t widely known is that he also enjoys food a lot, he can be classified as somewhat of a foodie. Salah said his favorite food is kushari, an Egyptian dish made from rice, pasta, and lentils, and topped with things like spiced tomatoes, chickpeas, and onions. It’s a dish that’s popular among working-class people in Egypt.
Style of Play
Salah is known for being quick, mobile, and hard-working, with good technique and a talent for scoring goals. He’s especially praised for his speed, agility, and ability to beat opponents with his dribbling skills. Mo is also slowly becoming known for his playmaking abilities, with 25 assists in the last two Premier League seasons, compared to 33 assists in the four seasons before that.
Salah has been compared to the likes of Lionel Messi, Arjen Robben, and Gareth Bale due to the similarities in their style of play. Fast, clinical, and quick on the ball, he is easily a nightmare for any Defender who happens to have a rather sad fate of going up against him. He has also earned the title of ‘Egyptian Messi’ courtesy of his gasp-worthy dribbles.
Trivia/FAQs
1. What is Salah’s rating in EA Sports FC 24?
He has an overall rating of 89.
2. What is Salah’s religion?
He is a follower of Islam.
3. How many languages does Salah speak?
He is fluent in Arabic and English. It is also said that he speaks a little bit of Italian.
4. How many times has Salah won the Premier League Golden Boot?
Three times: 2018, 2021 and 2022.
5. What is Salah’s net worth?
He is reported to have a net worth of $90 million.
