Mohamed Salah has carved his name into the record books of international football, becoming the third-fastest player in history to reach 100 goal contributions for his country.
The Liverpool superstar achieved the landmark during Egypt’s 3-2 victory over Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring a decisive 52nd-minute goal that helped secure his nation’s place in the tournament’s semi-finals.
The historic moment, which arrived in Salah’s 111th cap for the Pharaohs, comprises an impressive tally of 65 goals and 35 assists since his international debut in 2011. In reaching the century mark, the 33-year-old captain surpassed the pace of modern legends, doing so in fewer games than both Lionel Messi (122 games) and Cristiano Ronaldo (136 games).
He now sits behind only Brazilian icons Pelé, who needed just 77 matches, and Neymar, who took 94, on the all-time list of the fastest to 100 international goal contributions. This accomplishment also establishes Salah as the fastest African player ever to reach this milestone.
The achievement comes at a pivotal time for Salah, who has publicly expressed his burning desire to secure international silverware with Egypt, having suffered two runner-up finishes in the AFCON tournament. “Hopefully we go through the next game as well, it’s against a tough opponent, but we will give our best,” Salah said following the win over Ivory Coast.
“We are fighting so hard, you can see the players, nobody is holding anything back. We are just carrying on”. His commitment to the national cause is underscored by his own words on unity and purpose, stating, “the most important thing is that we all want to win for our country”.
This international success follows a period of intense scrutiny over Salah’s club future at Liverpool, where a public disagreement with head coach Arne Slot regarding his playing time had cast uncertainty. However, resolving those tensions by signing a new two-year contract extension in April 2025 appears to have refocused the forward.
In an interview after committing to Liverpool, Salah emphasized a team-first mentality that mirrors his approach with Egypt. “I’m more proud when we win team trophies because this is the most important thing,” he stated. “When you win something with the team and are scoring goals and you are involved, that’s what people remember”.
As Egypt continues its quest for a first AFCON title since 2010, Salah’s leadership and prolific output remain their greatest asset. The narrative around his career, often focused on his club achievements, is now powerfully augmented by this monumental international feat.
His legacy with the Pharaohs is secure, but for Salah, the ultimate goal remains bringing a major trophy home to his nation.