Mohamed Salah says bringing success to the people of Egypt surpasses any other achievement in his career.

Salah helped his nation see off Australia in a penalty shoot-out last night as they won a knockout game at the World Cup for the first time. They will now play Argentina in the round of 16.

The 34-year-old continues to struggle with a hamstring problem but played the full 120 minutes against the Socceroos, scoring an audacious Panenka spot-kick as Egypt won the shoot-out 4-2 following a 1-1 draw in Dallas.

Salah won two Premier League titles and the Champions League before leaving Liverpool at the end of last season, as well as countless individual awards, but says this is his finest hour.

He said: “I always feel proud to wear this shirt. Nothing makes me more proud than that, and I always like seeing the boys happy and enjoying the moment. Nothing can match that. Today was one of the best days of my life, making history with the team, and trying to give my best and play while I’m hurt [hamstring injury], because this is what I do for the country. I’m very proud of the moment and very proud of the boys and I don’t want to take any credit from them. They wrote the history today.

“It is a completely different feeling when one gets to write a beautiful story for the people in Egypt – better than any other achievement I could talk about. I always say that I always try to give people hope and ambition. Thank God, I was able to [achieve] something good abroad, but [Egyptians know] how much ambition I have. I am always talking with the players before the match and in the dressing room [about these being matches] that cannot be replaced. 

“Many previous generations might have won [AFCON titles] several times, but they weren’t lucky enough to play in the World Cup. Keep in mind that this moment you are in is a moment that might not be repeated. This is the biggest stage you can play on as football players, so enjoy it. Don’t let the pressure take this moment away from you, because after this, you might not find yourself here again.”

Egypt’s World Cup success more than makes up for AFCON disappointment – Salah

Salah has been part of two Egypt teams that have reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations but says success on the global stage is different.

“What we did [against Australia] is something unforgettable for all people,” he added. “What does it mean to me personally? It means a lot to me because this generation wasn’t lucky enough to win something in the Africa Cup of Nations. We lost twice in the final and we reached the semi-final several times, but we weren’t lucky. However, God compensated us by having us reach this stage and being able to perform this way, and having everyone talk about us. This is something that makes us all proud. It might be the greatest achievement in the history of this generation. I hope there will be something greater than this, God willing, in what is to come, but we don’t know what will happen.

“I always hope that I have given people hope that they can achieve and reach a great place. Especially children, I mean more than the new people. It doesn’t necessarily have to be that you have someone in a position of playing football. I want someone to be a doctor in a field, and everyone can have hope.

“You say ‘this person gave us hope at a time when things were difficult in the world’, or we can look back later [and say that]. These are the things, the experiences, that I try to pass on to… anyone who talks to me about anything. My dream is to look back and say ‘yes, I had a good career, people learned from me, and people had hope that they could achieve something good.”

Salah is still without a club after leaving Anfield and is expected to move to one of the Saudi Pro League sides when the World Cup concludes.

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