Mohamed Salah faces scrutiny following a subdued performance in yet another cup final, with his goals and assists record once again under the microscope.
Frequently criticised for seemingly disappearing on the big occasions, the Liverpool and Egypt star’s presence when it really counts is beginning to flag up.
Following Liverpool’s defeat by Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, the criticism continues. But is this perception fair, or does it overlook his significant contributions?
Let’s take a deeper look into Salah’s track record in cup finals for both club and country to assess his goal and assist contributions.
Mohamed Salah’s Cup Final Record (Goals And Assists)
Egypt 1-2 Cameroon: Africa Cup Of Nations Final (2017)
Salah was a key player for Egypt, contributing with an assist in the final. Despite his efforts, Egypt fell short against Cameroon, marking a disappointing end to their campaign in the tournament.
Minutes Played: 90
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
🇪🇬 Throwback to Egypt vs Cameroon! 🇨🇲
A glimpse of the 2017 #TotalEnergiesAFCON final that was decided by one cold Aboubakar finish. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/5fcYLh7ULo
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) February 22, 2025
Liverpool 1-3 Real Madrid: Champions League Final (2018)
Salah’s night ended in heartbreak as he suffered a shoulder injury in the first half after a challenge from Sergio Ramos. He managed to play only 31 minutes, leaving Liverpool to fight on without him as they fell to Real Madrid.
Minutes Played: 31
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
🏆 The Decimotercera…
🇺🇦 When Real Madrid beat Liverpool in 2018 final, a game which featured substitute Gareth Bale's stunning overhead effort 🔥@realmadriden | #UCL pic.twitter.com/fGcTT7Aza9— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 14, 2021
Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham: Champions League Final (2019)
Salah scored Liverpool’s first goal of the match from the penalty spot just two minutes in, helping propel his team to their sixth European title. This was a redemption moment after his injury in the previous final.
Minutes Played: 90
Goals: 1 (penalty)
Assists: 0
Liverpool 2-2 Chelsea: Super Cup Final (2019) – Liverpool won 5-4 on penalties
Salah played the full 120 minutes but he couldn’t find the net. He was instrumental in Liverpool’s victory, but his scoring drought in finals continued.
Minutes Played: 120
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Liverpool 1-0 Flamengo: Club World Cup Final (2019)
Salah played the full match but did not score, Liverpool clinched the win thanks to Roberto Firmino’s extra-time goal. Salah’s contribution was significant as he helped create chances throughout the match.
Minutes Played: 120
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Egypt 0-0 Senegal: Africa Cup Of Nations Final (2019) – Senegal won 4-2 on penalties
Salah captained Egypt but was unable to convert in the penalty shootout. He played a full match with no direct goal contributions, leading to another disappointing final for the national team.
Minutes Played: 120
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City: Community Shield (2022)
Salah scored a penalty and assisted another goal, contributing significantly to Liverpool’s triumph. This marked a positive moment in his final record, but still featured only a penalty goal.
Minutes Played: 90
Goals: 1 (penalty)
Assists: 1
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea: FA Cup Final (2022) – Liverpool won 6-5 on penalties
Background: Salah played only 33 minutes after being substituted due to injury. He did not score during the match, and Liverpool secured the win in a tense penalty shootout.
Minutes Played: 33
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Liverpool 0-1 Real Madrid: Champions League Final (2022)
Salah faced Real Madrid again, seeking revenge for the 2018 final. He played the full 90 minutes but was unable to make an impact as Liverpool lost to Madrid.
Minutes Played: 90
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea: Carabao Cup Final (2022) – Liverpool won 11-10 on penalties
Salah played the full match but did not score. The match went to penalties, where Liverpool triumphed, but Salah’s inability to score in open play continued.
Minutes Played: 120
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Liverpool 1-2 Newcastle: Carabao Cup Final (2025)
Mohamed Salah had an underwhelming performance, frequently finding himself isolated on the right side and unable to get on the ball to influence the game.
Minutes Played: 90
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
| Mo Salah’s Goals And Assists Record In Cup Finals | |||
| Game | Minutes Played | Goals | Assists |
| Africa Cup of Nations Final (2017) | 90 | 0 | 1 |
| Champions League Final (2018) | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| Champions League Final (2019) | 90 | 1 (penalty) | 0 |
| Super Cup Final (2019) | 120 | 0 | 0 |
| Club World Cup Final (2019) | 120 | 0 | 0 |
| Africa Cup of Nations Final (2021) | 120 | 0 | 0 |
| Community Shield (2022) | 90 | 1 (penalty) | 1 |
| FA Cup Final (2022) | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| Champions League Final (2022) | 90 | 0 | 0 |
| Carabao Cup Final (2022) | 120 | 0 | 0 |
| Carabao Cup Final (2025) | 90 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 994 | 2 (penalties) | 2 |
