In a dramatic turn of events, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been likened to footballing greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo by none other than England legend Paul Gascoigne. The Egyptian forward’s impressive form on the pitch has sparked speculation about his future at the Reds, with Gascoigne weighing in on the transfer rumors.
Salah’s phenomenal display in Liverpool’s 3-3 draw against Newcastle United, where he scored two goals and provided an assist, has further cemented his status as a force to be reckoned with in football. The 32-year-old’s incredible statistics, boasting 15 goals and 12 assists in 21 matches across all competitions, have left fans and pundits alike in awe.
However, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has criticized Salah for his comments about his contract situation, labeling him “selfish.” But Gascoigne has come to the Egyptian’s defense, saying that he wouldn’t pay attention to Carragher’s remarks if he were Salah. “I wouldn’t respond if I was Salah,” the former Everton star said. “It’s Salah, there’s a lot of people like him. Look at PSG, they had an unbelievable team, but Messi even wanted to go to America. Another one, Ronaldo, a top-class player who went to Saudi Arabia. When a player comes to the end of his career, money talks.”
Gascoigne’s praise for Salah is unwavering, describing him as “quality” and saying that he often reminds him of Messi due to his ability to stick to his feet and work back for his team. “Sometimes when that ball is at his feet, it reminds me a little bit like Messi… just sticks to his foot and he works back for his team, which is good, so I think Carragher was out of order calling him selfish.”
The comparison to Messi and Ronaldo is not unfounded, given Salah’s incredible goal-scoring record alongside his exceptional pace and agility on the pitch. While Messi moved to MLS side Inter Miami after turning 36, Ronaldo joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr at 37, proving that even the greatest of players can adapt to new surroundings.
Italy and Juventus great Giorgio Chiellini has also weighed in on the debate, choosing Cristiano Ronaldo over Lionel Messi during a conversation on The Overlap. “When we were losing, he had the balls to take all the balls, no matter what, try to win, shoot from anywhere in order to lead the team to win, and it’s not easy to do it for a lot of players. When the game is more difficult, he raises his level of performance.”
The Portuguese star’s ability to perform under pressure has been a hallmark of his illustrious career, which includes five trophies with Juventus and an impressive 101 goals and 22 assists in 131 total matches. Now, plying his trade for Al-Nassr, Ronaldo has continued to find the back of the net with ease, scoring 15 goals and laying out three assists in 18 overall outings.
As Salah’s future at Liverpool remains uncertain, one thing is clear: he is an exceptional footballer who has earned comparisons to some of the greatest players of all time. Whether he chooses to stay at Anfield or seek new pastures, Salah’s incredible talent and work ethic will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the world of football.
