9 Key Facts About Mohamed Salah and His Career From Childhood
- Think Football Ideas
- Aug 15
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 10
Full Name: Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly
Date of Birth: 15 June 1992
Place of Birth: Nagrig, Basyoun, Egypt
Height: 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s): Right winger, forward
Current Club: Liverpool
Jersey Number: 11
Mohamed Salah: From Nagrig Streets to Global Football Icon.
When Mohamed Salah first kicked a football around the dusty fields of rural Egypt, who would have known that the Egyptian winger was destined to light up the grandest stages and become one of the most devastating wide forwards of all time.
His speed, unpredictability and ferocious finishing have shredded countless defences, but behind the whirlwind performances lies a man with a rich backstory.
There are layers to Salah’s journey, moments from his youth, acts of generosity, and career-defining experiences that have shaped him into the icon he is today. Here are some fascinating snapshots from his life and career, starting all the way back in his childhood village.
Below Are 9 Key Facts About Mohamed Salah and His Career From Childhood Days
1. He was Born in Nagrig And Grew Up in Humble Beginnings
Salah’s story begins in Nagrig, a small farming village roughly three hours north of Cairo, where life moved to the rhythm of agriculture and community gatherings. The dusty lanes and tight-knit households gave him a grounding that fame could never erode.
Opportunities in sport were scarce, and the concept of making it to Europe’s elite leagues felt like a distant fantasy. Yet, in that quiet corner of Egypt, a boy with a ball at his feet dreamed big. Local neighbours recall him playing until the sun dipped low, perfecting moves not for show, but for the sheer love of the game.
2. He Had An Adventurous Youth Career Featuring Arab Contractors Al Mokawloon
Before the world knew him, Salah’s football education was a patchwork of dedication and sacrifice, and his youth career was a marathon of commitment.
He had early spells with Ittihad Basyoun and Othmason Tanta, small local teams where his potential started to glimmer.
But his real leap came when he joined Arab Contractors (Al Mokawloon) at 14. Training was based in Cairo, which meant long daily journeys from Nagrig, often leaving school early, grabbing a bite, and hopping on buses that rattled through the Egyptian countryside.
For six years, this was his routine: miles of travel, hours of training, and a single-minded focus on making it in football.
3. As A Teenager, Salah Made His Barber, Ahmed El Masri Popular Among Friends
In his teenage years, Salah’s loyalty to Ahmed El Masri’s barber shop didn’t just keep his look sharp, it quietly turned the small village spot into a place his friends admired and wanted to visit.
The shop, like many in small towns, doubled as a place for local banter, football debates, and catching up on village news. Salah would sit in the chair, smile quietly as the conversations swirled, and soak in the familiar comfort of home, a grounding contrast to the bustling cities where he was chasing his football dreams.
Ahmed El Masri told BBC Sport: "His friends once told him not to get his hair cut here because we're from a village, not a city, but he'd always come to me. The next day, his friends would be surprised [at his haircut] and ask him 'who's your barber?'."
4. He Consistently Chose Liverpool when Playing PlayStation As A child
Long before wearing the famous red shirt, Salah was scoring for Liverpool on a different stage - his PlayStation. Friends remember how, no matter the competition, he’d instinctively pick the Merseyside club in FIFA matches.
Perhaps it was fate, or maybe just an unspoken connection to a team that would one day define his legacy. Either way, the virtual pitch was an early place where he imagined himself part of Anfield’s roar.
"The big thing I remember most is that when we all played PlayStation, Salah would always choose to be Liverpool." Ahmed El confirmed. "The other boys would choose Manchester United or Barcelona, but he'd always be Liverpool."
5. He Has A youth Centre in Nagrig and it was Upgraded in His Honour
Salah never forgot the lack of facilities he experienced as a child, so he ensured the next generation in Nagrig would have a better starting point.
The village youth centre, now upgraded in his honour, proudly displays a photo of him holding the Champions League trophy, a daily reminder to local kids that someone from their own streets reached the very top.
To many, the centre is more than a building; it’s a symbol that ambition has no borders, not even in a tiny Egyptian farming village.
Beyond the centre, his charity work has supported orphans, widows, and struggling families in the area, alongside funding projects like a post office, ambulance unit, religious institute, and sewage treatment facility.
These aren’t the kind of grand gestures meant for headlines because they’re practical, life-changing investments that continue to transform village life.
6. Playing Time at Basel, Chelsea, and 2 Loan Stints Prepared Him for Liverpool
Salah’s path to Liverpool wasn’t a straight sprint. It was more like a winding marathon. His time at Basel introduced him to European football, sharpening his tactical awareness and resilience, helping the club win the Super Swiss League twice.
A big move to Chelsea followed, but limited minutes pushed him into loan spells at Fiorentina and Roma. The loan reignited his spark, offering the playing time and freedom to flourish. However, Roma saw something in him and eventually signed him permanently, with Salah scoring 15 goals in 31 matches before Liverpool snapped him up after just one season.
He treated every move as an opportunity to adapt, learn new styles, and refine his craft. By the time Liverpool came calling, he was no longer simply a quick winger, he was a complete forward ready to dominate the Premier League, where he now ranks among the top five highest goalscorers the competition has ever seen.
7. He is the All-time Foreign Top Goalscorer in the Premier League
Salah’s numbers in England speak volumes. At Liverpool, he became the all-time highest-scoring foreign player in Premier League history, while also setting the benchmark as the top African scorer in the UEFA Champions League.
Add to that his place among the top five African men’s goalscorers in international football, and it’s clear that he’s not only competing with the greats, he’s rewriting the record books.
His goals have come in all shapes and sizes: blistering counterattacks, composed finishes under pressure, and long-range strikes that leave goalkeepers rooted.
8. He Shares A Premier League Record with An Arsenal Legend
Individual honours have flowed throughout Salah’s career, but they tell only part of the story. He holds the joint record for the most Premier League Golden Boot awards in the league’s history, four, a feat he shares with Arsenal great Thierry Henry.
This speaks to his remarkable consistency, while his three FWA Footballer of the Year awards and two PFA Players’ Player of the Year titles underline the respect he commands from both journalists and peers.
Twice he’s been named Premier League Player of the Season, and twice the league’s Playmaker of the Season, which is proof of his dual threat as both scorer and creator.
Reaching 200 goals for Liverpool has cemented him as a club legend, and in Egypt, his achievements have made him an ambassador for the game, inspiring countless young players to dream big.
9. He Has The Most Premier League Goals Scored On An Opening Weekend - 10
Mohamed Salah has made a habit of lighting up the Premier League’s opening weekend, and on 15 August 2025, he set yet another record by netting his 10th goal in season openers, ranking ahead of Jamie Vardy, Alan Shearer, and Wayne Rooney.
In a pulsating six-goal clash against Bournemouth at Anfield, the Egyptian delivered a finish that defied his trademark pattern. Instead of drifting in from the right to unleash his lethal left, Salah started from the opposite flank, luring defenders deep into the box.
With a deft change of direction, he cut inside onto his right foot and threaded a precise low strike into the far corner to make it 4-2 to the Reds. It was the sort of composed yet ruthless execution that summed up his enduring brilliance and his knack for making history when the stage is set.
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