As the sun prepares to set on Mohamed Salah’s glittering Liverpool career, Anfield is bracing for an emotional farewell this Sunday, May 24, 2026. The iconic Egyptian forward, now 33, will take to the pitch one last time in the famous red shirt, facing Brentford in a Premier League clash that will mark the end of an era for both player and club. It’s a moment that feels almost surreal for Liverpool fans, who have spent nearly a decade watching Salah redefine what it means to be a legend on Merseyside.
Salah’s decision to leave Liverpool, announced back in March, sent ripples through the football world. After nine years of dazzling footwork, record-breaking goals, and unforgettable celebrations, the man known as the “Egyptian King” is set to write a new chapter in his story. Yet, as Liverpool boss Arne Slot remarked earlier this spring, Salah “deserves a big send-off”—and few could argue with that sentiment. With more than 250 goals, two Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, and countless individual accolades, Salah’s place in Liverpool’s pantheon of greats is beyond dispute.
Let’s talk numbers for a moment, because Salah’s statistics are nothing short of breathtaking. Since arriving at Liverpool, he’s found the net 257 times in 441 appearances, making him the club’s third-highest scorer of all time. Only two men have managed more. His trophy cabinet is overflowing: two league titles, a Champions League crown, a FIFA Club World Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, and a host of domestic cups. Individually, he’s claimed four Premier League Golden Boots, three PFA Player of the Year awards, and the FWA Footballer of the Year honor—not to mention the admiration of fans worldwide.
But Salah’s legacy goes far beyond the stats and silverware. He’s become a cultural icon, a trailblazer for Muslim and North African athletes in European football. His journey from the small Egyptian village of Nagrig to the global stage is the stuff of legend. As a youngster, Salah would endure grueling four-hour bus rides—five days a week—to train with El Mokawloon in Cairo. That discipline and perseverance shaped the player, and the person, he would become.
“If you told me at 10-years-old that the best player in the league is Muslim, I’d have called you a liar. And if you told me his name was Mohammed Salah, I would have told you to get out of my room, basically,” London-based football journalist Ahmed Shooble told Al Jazeera last month. For Shooble and countless others, Salah’s unapologetic embrace of his faith—his sujoud goal celebration, his visible piety—has been transformative. “I guess Salah is contributing to the lessening of [Islamophobia] just purely by being himself,” Shooble added, emphasizing the humility and authenticity that have made Salah a role model for millions.
North African sports journalist Maher Mezahi echoed these sentiments, noting not only Salah’s impact as a Muslim athlete but also as a North African breaking barriers in European football. Mezahi recounted how Salah’s journey inspired fellow Egyptian Ibrahim Adel, who recently secured a move from the UAE to Danish side Nordsjaelland, motivated by Salah’s example. The pair will soon join forces as Salah captains Egypt at the 2026 FIFA World Cup—a testament to his enduring influence back home.
“What he’s done is been a trailblazer, and if that’s a measure of greatness, then he’s definitely the greatest Egyptian player of all time,” Mezahi told Al Jazeera. “If he can do it, anyone can do it.” That message has resonated deeply with the next generation. “The 10-year-olds who are watching him today can grow up in a world where they have that role model, and they don’t think it’s beyond their wildest dreams,” Shooble said.
Yet, for Salah himself, it’s the connection with Liverpool and its fans that he treasures most. In a recent interview for the LFC Original film Salah: Farewell to the King, the forward reflected, “It means to me everything. You live in the club, you feel the love and appreciation from the fans. This is the most important thing, people appreciate what you have done and appreciate everything you’ve done for them and for yourself. So, this is the most important thing.”
Salah’s humility shines through in every word. “It feels special. I’m blessed. Not too many people had the opportunity to play here nine years and perform how I performed or just enjoy or go through the process that I’ve been through. So, it’s a blessing and something I don’t take for granted.”
His love for Liverpool runs deep—not just as a player, but as a father and a member of the community. Salah’s daughters, Makka and Kayan, have grown up in the shadow of Anfield’s famous stands, and their allegiance to the club is unwavering. “The club means everything. The people mean everything, the city means everything. I will always love this club. I will always support it. My kids will always support it and even when I talk to them now, I tell them like, we’re leaving Liverpool, they say, ‘Well, we’re going to support the club even when you leave.’ I say, ‘We’re not going to support my new club?’ They say, ‘No, we love Liverpool. We’re going to support Liverpool. We’re not going to support anything else.’ I say, ‘OK, fine.’”
Fans will remember the lighter moments too—like the end of Salah’s debut 2017-18 season, when his daughter Makka dribbled the ball into the Kop net during a lap of appreciation, cheered on by thousands. “When I won the Golden Boot, I was taking a picture and going inside. Then Makka grabbed the ball and scored a goal in front of the Kop. It was just such a special moment for me and I’m sure for her,” Salah recalled. “She is grown up now and she will look back in the future also to reflect on the love she saw from the people and the appreciation. It’s something very special as a father to see it, to be proud of seeing my daughter scoring goals here. I was telling [Hugo] Ekitike before he scored that my daughter scored more goals than you! It’s something very special for me as a father to see the love from the fans, and it’s also appreciation for what I have done probably.”
As Liverpool prepares to face Brentford and say goodbye to one of its greatest ever players, the occasion promises to be as much about gratitude as it is about football. Salah’s influence on and off the pitch will be felt for years to come—not just in the record books, but in the hearts of those he inspired. From the streets of Nagrig to the hallowed turf of Anfield, Mohamed Salah’s journey has been a testament to perseverance, faith, and the power of dreams.
When the final whistle blows on Sunday, the legend of Mohamed Salah at Liverpool will be sealed—not just in goals and trophies, but in the memories and hopes he’s given to a generation. Anfield will surely echo with appreciation for a player who has truly changed the game, both for Liverpool and for football itself.