As Salah plays final Liverpool match, his legacy goes far beyond the pitch

As Salah plays final Liverpool match, his legacy goes far beyond the pitchMohamed Salah’s status as one of Liverpool’s greatest players of all time transcends his achievements in the sport.Published On 23 May 2026When Mohamed Salah plays his last match for Liverpool this Sunday, he will leave as a cultural icon with a lasting legacy well beyond the game.The 33-year-old Egyptian forward announced in March that he would leave Anfield at the end of this season, with Liverpool boss Arne Slot saying he “deserves a big send-off” after nearly a decade at the Premier League club.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4‘Stay in Europe’: Salah warned against US move as MLS clubs eye Egypt iconlist 2 of 4Departing Salah scores in Merseyside derby as Liverpool win to stay fifthlist 3 of 4World Cup injury watch: Which players could miss the 2026 tournament?list 4 of 4Man Utd beat Liverpool in thriller to secure Champions League qualificationend of listLiverpool will take on Brentford this Sunday at Anfield, a fitting locale for the striker to play his final game for the club.Salah’s status as one of the greatest Liverpool players of all time transcends the awards and top-tier statistics that he dominates – more than 250 goals for the club, two Premier League titles, four league Golden Boots, and three PFA Players of the Year awards, among others.The legacy he has built as an openly Muslim and North African player in Europe – authentically and unapologetically – has left a lasting impact on thousands of fans and budding players alike.“If you told me at 10-years-old that the best player in the league is Muslim, I’d have called you a liar. And if you told me his name was Mohammed Salah, I would have told you to get out of my room, basically,” London-based football journalist Ahmed Shooble told Al Jazeera last month.As a young fan, Shooble recalls the struggles of navigating the quintessentially English football atmosphere synonymous with drinking and gambling, both of which are forbidden in Islam.Salah being a devout Muslim and “authentically himself” was the first time Shooble saw his own identity take up space on the global football stage. For Shooble, even Salah’s trademark celebration of sujoud (bending down in prostration) was testimony that nothing is possible without God.