Mohamed Salah has created history at AFCON by becoming the third fastest footballer to reach 100 goal contributions for their country.
The Liverpool legend has been in terrific form for Egypt, firing his nation to the semi-finals with four goals in successive games.
Egypt, who knocked out the Ivory Coast with a 3-2 victory in the quarter-finals, are aiming to cement their status as AFCON’s most successful nation as they chase their eighth title.
It would be their first since 2010, and it’s the one major trophy that continues to elude Salah.
Mo Salah Creates History For Egypt
Salah’s four goals and one assist during the tournament mean he has now hit a century of goal contributions for Egypt in just 111 games.
The 33-year-old, who left Liverpool with a cryptic parting message before the tournament, has scored 65 goals and assisted a further 35 to enhance his reputation as a legend in his native country.
Only two players in history have managed to equal that tally in fewer games… and it’s not Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.
It took Pele just 77 games to reach 100 goal contributions, while fellow Brazilian Neymar reached that tally in 94 matches.
Romelu Lukaku became a centurion in 113 games for Belgium, while it took Messi and Ronaldo 122 games and 136 games, respectively.
The only active player who could reach 100 goal contributions before Salah is Erling Haaland, who has reached a total of 61 contributions in 48 games for Norway.
The Egyptian King👑
Only two players reached 100 international goal contributions in fewer games than Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian reached the milestone against Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations pic.twitter.com/fTjhPprUBJ
— Transfermarkt.co.uk (@TMuk_news) January 12, 2026
Mo Salah vs Sadio Mane
On Wednesday, the two former club team-mates will reunite for what is likely to be the final time when Egypt take on Senegal in a highly intriguing contest.
All eyes will be on the rivalry between Salah and Sadio Mane, who enjoyed a frightening relationship on the pitch during their trophy-laden years together at Liverpool.
But their partnership on the pitch certainly didn’t mirror their friendship back in the dressing room.
That was revealed in Roberto Firmino’s book, who wrote: “I knew these guys better than anyone.
“They were never best friends. The three of us had very different personalities, Mané the most explosive, my role [was] as peacemaker, unifier.
“It was rare to see the two of them talking. But they never severed ties, always acted with the utmost professionalism.”
Firmino would cite that their relationship may have “had to do with the Egypt-Senegal rivalry in African competitions”.
There’s an added spice to the game on Wednesday, with time running out for Salah to lift the trophy he wants the most.
In 2021, Senegal met Egypt in the AFCON final, which went to penalties after both sides failed to score in 120 minutes of football.
Salah was due to take Egypt’s final penalty, but after Mohamed Abdelmonem and Lasheen missed, Mane rolled in the winning spot-kick with one to spare.
Just a month later, the two sides met in a winner-takes-all World Cup qualifier where Salah missed a penalty, and Mane scored from 12 yards out to send his nation to Qatar.
When discussing what it will mean for Salah to win this tournament, he said: “Nobody wants this title as much as I do.
“Thankfully, I have won every title apart from this. But that doesn’t help. I’ve carried the pressure for a long time.”
