The Power of Mo Salah’s Goal-Scoring Ritual

Egypt suffered a disappointing loss to Uruguay during its first World Cup match last week, and this week proved no better. In their second-match loss to Russia on Tuesday, the Pharaohs effectively bid farewell to any hopes of advancing to the tournament’s final knockout stage. But they didn’t leave the field completely empty-handed: Their beloved star player Mohamed “Mo” Salah had returned from a shoulder injury to deliver the country’s first World Cup goal in 28 years. The “Egyptian King,” as he is affectionately known to fans, had returned.

Salah’s illustrious reputation precedes his World Cup debut in Saint Petersburg. The 26-year-old became one of global soccer’s breakout stars in 2018, quickly emerging as a force within his club team, Liverpool F.C. He helped propel the English club the English Premier League scoring record in a single season. He was named one of the top 10 goal-scorers in Europe. The Professional Footballers’ Association crowned him .