Mohamed Salah is an exceptional footballer whose achievements in European football deserve respect, but his status should not place him beyond criticism or turn him into a national figure who is assumed to be incapable of making mistakes.
There is a distinction between being a world-class player and a national legend, just as there is between being a great footballer and being a role model. In the case of Salah, those ideas have increasingly been treated as interchangeable, to the point where questioning his conduct is viewed by some as unacceptable.
Yet several of the player’s own actions have challenged the idealised image created around him. They have served as a reminder that, whatever his achievements, he remains a footballer rather than an infallible national hero.
During the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, Salah supported Amr Warda during the player’s controversial misconduct case. Given Salah’s influence, that situation called for a clear position from one of the country’s biggest stars. Instead, it raised questions about the meaning of the role-model status often attached to him.
There have also been repeated instances of his absence from or distance from the Egypt national team, prompting questions from supporters. On each occasion, some were quick to provide explanations, creating the impression that playing for the national side was an obligation expected of everyone except its biggest star.
The war in Gaza brought further disappointment for many supporters. As one of the Arab world’s most influential public figures, Salah was expected by some to offer words or take a position that reflected their pain. His perceived silence, however, left many feeling that he had not responded in a way that matched the scale of his fame.
No one can force Salah to adopt a particular position, but people cannot be denied the right to express disappointment with his choices. A player who benefits from the advantages of fame and influence must accept that supporters will assess his conduct as well as his goals and performances.
His relationship with Hossam Hassan was another difficult episode. A dispute with the former Egypt manager was followed by Salah leaving the national-team camp before the match against South Sudan. After the manager was dismissed, Salah posted a picture in which he appeared to be sticking out his tongue. That led to a further question: is that appropriate behaviour from a player of Salah’s stature, regardless of any disagreement with his manager?
Salah’s record for Egypt also needs to be considered without exaggeration. He played a part in qualification for the 2018 World Cup and contributed to reaching the 2026 edition, but qualification is a collective achievement rather than one that belongs to a single player.
Salah did not play those campaigns alone, and his team-mates were not merely supporting actors in an individual story. Nor was he the clearest or most influential star during Egypt’s most recent World Cup appearance; other players also produced performances worthy of recognition.
His Liverpool career and global status do not give him achievements he did not secure, nor should Egypt become a supporting detail in the story of its most famous player. The national team is bigger than any individual, whatever his name, market value or goalscoring record.
Recognising Salah as one of the greatest Egyptian professionals does not mean accepting every action without question. Greatness is measured by conduct as well as statistics, while being a role model brings responsibility as well as fame. Searching for an excuse whenever he causes public anger is not admiration or sporting loyalty; it is a refusal to allow legitimate scrutiny.
