Trezeguet hails Mohamed Salah as ‘best player in the world’ despite mixed club form

Egypt forward Mahmoud Hassan, widely known as Trezeguet, has described Mohamed Salah as the best player in world football, while underlining the Liverpool star’s importance to the national team ahead of their international commitments.

“For me, Salah is the best player in the world,” Trezeguet told AFP. “His presence is extremely important for us. Not only as a star, but also as a leader who gives us confidence and strength.”

Salah and Trezeguet were central to Egypt’s attacking output during qualifying, combining for 14 of the team’s 20 goals, highlighting their growing influence as Egypt prepares for major tournaments.

Despite his international impact, Salah endured a subdued campaign at club level with Liverpool, a season that ultimately hastened his departure from the Premier League giants. The Egyptian forward managed 12 goals in 41 appearances—his lowest return in a Liverpool shirt.

A year earlier, Salah had signed a new two-year contract following a historic season in which he inspired Liverpool to the Premier League title.

However, his final months at Anfield were marked by reported tensions with manager Arne Slot, including a period in December when he was left out for three consecutive matches.

Although injuries to teammates allowed him to regain his place after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, his overall output fell short of previous standards, raising questions about his form in domestic competition.

At international level, however, Salah has continued to deliver. He scored in his first four Africa Cup of Nations appearances and remains central to Egypt’s ambitions heading into a favourable World Cup qualifying group that includes Belgium, New Zealand, and Iran.

Despite Egypt’s semi-final exit at Afcon against Senegal, led by former Liverpool teammate Sadio Mané, Salah’s influence remains undisputed within the national setup, where expectations continue to rest heavily on his shoulders.