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Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Egypt’s Mohamed Salah Stars on Time’s Cover


Wed 17 Apr 2019 | 07:39 PM
Nawal Sayed

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is named as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world. Salah is one of six TIME 100 cover stars.

Other athletes on the list include the NBA's LeBron James, U.S. soccer's Alex Morgan, tennis player Naomi Osaka, middle distance runner Caster Semenya, golfer Tiger Woods, and pro gamer "Ninja" (Richard Tyler Blevins).

It’s noteworthy that this is the first time Salah has featured on the list, while Woods has featured three times and LA Lakers' James four.

Salah's global popularity surged last year when he enjoyed a breakthrough season with Liverpool, scoring 44 goals in the 2017-18 campaign and helping the English Premier League side reach the Champions League final.

[caption id="attachment_46077" align="aligncenter" width="634"]Egypts Mohamed Salah on Times Magazine 2019 Egypts Mohamed Salah on Times Magazine 2019[/caption]

"Mo Salah is a better human being than he is a football player. And he's one of the best football players in the world," writes comedian and Liverpool fan John Oliver in his TIME's dedication to the player.

"You'd be hard-pressed to find a professional athlete in any sport less affected by their success or status than Mo, which is incredible because I can't imagine the kind of pressure that comes with the intensity of adoration he receives.

[caption id="attachment_46079" align="aligncenter" width="634"]The Rock on Times Magazine 2019 The Rock on Times Magazine 2019[/caption]

"Mo is an iconic figure for Egyptians, Scousers and Muslims the world over, and yet he always comes across as a humble, thoughtful, funny man who isn't taking any of this too seriously.

Salah is adored in his native Egypt. And the 26-year-old forward is the only footballer on the list.

He won the Premier League top scorer and best player awards last season and came third in the FIFA Best Player Award for 2018.