Riyad Mahrez picks Mohamed Salah ahead of rival in player challenge

Riyad Mahrez has made clear his admiration for Mohamed Salah after selecting the Egyptian forward over Hatem Ben Arfa in a quick-fire player challenge during an interview with Canal+ Afrique.

The Algerian captain, who has often been compared to Salah in debates over Africa’s greatest modern footballers, demonstrated his respect for the Liverpool star’s achievements, even while revealing his own footballing preferences.

Respect Amid Rivalry

In the light-hearted segment, Mahrez was asked to choose between a series of players until arriving at his ultimate pick. His choices gradually narrowed the list, eventually leading him to crown Lionel Messi as the standout player above all others.

The process, however, highlighted the esteem in which he holds Salah. At one stage, Mahrez was asked to select between Salah and Ben Arfa, a player the Algerian has openly admired for years.

Despite Ben Arfa’s flair and influence on his career, Mahrez opted for Salah, recognising the Egyptian’s extraordinary record in English football.

Salah’s three PFA Player of the Year awards, combined with his prolific goal-scoring exploits for Liverpool, weighed heavily in the decision.

No player has matched that particular individual honour in England, and Mahrez’s acknowledgment underlined his respect for Salah’s sustained excellence at the highest level.

A Journey Through Football Icons

The game began with Mahrez choosing between Ryan Giggs and Arjen Robben, siding with the Dutch winger. He then picked Ángel Di María over Robben before surprisingly placing Ben Arfa ahead of the Argentine World Cup winner, a choice that reflected the personal admiration he has often expressed for the Frenchman of Tunisian descent.

When it came to Ben Arfa versus Salah, Mahrez gave the edge to the Egyptian. From there, Salah was eliminated in favour of Neymar, before the Brazilian himself fell to Messi.

For Mahrez, Messi stood apart, with his eight Ballon d’Or trophies, over 40 collective honours, and a World Cup triumph cementing his status as the ultimate choice.

Mahrez and Salah Compared

While the debate over who is Africa’s greatest footballer of the modern era remains ongoing, Mahrez’s gesture highlighted the mutual respect that exists between two of the continent’s biggest stars.

Mahrez, an Africa Cup of Nations winner with Algeria, has lifted multiple Premier League titles and a Champions League medal, establishing himself as one of the most successful African players in English football history.

Salah, meanwhile, has rewritten record books at Liverpool, winning the Premier League, Champions League, and numerous individual awards.

Their rivalry has often been framed in terms of numbers and accolades, but Mahrez’s decision showed that for him, the bigger picture lies in recognising Salah’s consistent brilliance rather than reducing their careers to a simple comparison.

The Bigger Picture

By eventually settling on Messi as his ultimate pick, Mahrez acknowledged the Argentinian’s unmatched status in world football. Yet, in choosing Salah ahead of one of his personal idols in Ben Arfa, the Algerian reinforced the Egyptian’s standing as a player whose impact transcends individual loyalties.

The light-hearted quiz, designed as entertainment, ultimately offered insight into Mahrez’s perspective on greatness. It also showed that even among Africa’s finest, admiration for one another’s achievements remains a defining trait.