Mohamed Salah delivered a decisive second-half performance as Egypt secured their first-ever World Cup victory, defeating New Zealand 3-1 and moving to the verge of a place in the knockout stage.
The Pharaohs, playing in their ninth World Cup match across tournament history, finally celebrated a long-awaited win after recovering from an early setback. New Zealand stunned Egypt by taking the lead, but the African side responded strongly after the break, with Salah at the heart of the turnaround.
The 34-year-old forward scored in the 67th minute to put Egypt ahead before providing the corner that led to Trezeguet’s header, helping seal a landmark result. The victory leaves Egypt in a strong position ahead of their final group match against Iran, with a draw likely enough to secure progression.
Salah’s influence was particularly significant given his difficult start to the tournament. After a subdued display in Egypt’s opening draw with Belgium and a quiet first half against New Zealand, questions were beginning to emerge over whether his World Cup frustrations would continue.
Instead, the veteran forward produced the kind of performance that has defined his career, joining fellow global stars such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane in making a decisive impact at the tournament.
The achievement carries added significance for Salah, whose previous World Cup experiences were marked by disappointment. In 2018, he entered the tournament recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid. Egypt lost all three group matches in Russia, while Salah’s penalty against the hosts proved little more than a consolation. Four years later, Egypt failed to qualify for Qatar.
His club future also remains uncertain after departing Liverpool this summer following a difficult final season that included reported tensions with former manager Arne Slot. Despite ongoing transfer speculation, Salah made it clear that his priority was leading Egypt at the World Cup.
Any concerns over a possible rift within the national team were dismissed after Egypt manager Hossam Hassan publicly denied reports of a disagreement with the forward following his substitution against Belgium.
Against New Zealand, Salah responded in the best possible way. He registered five shots and created five chances, making him one of the tournament’s most influential performers in a single match.
The goal was his 68th for Egypt in 118 appearances, leaving him just one behind Hassan’s national scoring record. More importantly, it helped end a 92-year wait for an Egyptian victory at the World Cup.
Salah’s status in Egypt extends far beyond football. His every touch is greeted by huge anticipation from supporters, and his importance has previously drawn attention from senior government officials, particularly during injury concerns ahead of major tournaments.
While he has collected major honours at club level, including Premier League titles with Liverpool, international silverware has remained elusive. Egypt have fallen short in two Africa Cup of Nations finals during his era, and the country’s golden generation that won three consecutive continental titles between 2006 and 2010 remains the benchmark.
For now, however, Egypt can celebrate a historic breakthrough. Salah’s display not only delivered a first World Cup victory but also gave the nation renewed hope of finally making a deep run on football’s biggest stage.