Published Date: 2025-05-09 15:36:52 Updated At: 2025-05-09 15:40:40

In an exclusive interview with "France Football" magazine, Egypt's star player and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah revealed his personal picks for the best left-footed players in football history. These selections, which included comparisons with many legendary stars, reflect Salah's deep respect for the game’s icons and his appreciation for their skills throughout the ages.

Salah began his choices by preferring Welshman Ryan Giggs over James Rodríguez and Algerian Riyad Mahrez, stating that Giggs was one of the players who influenced him the most during his career. However, he didn’t stop there, as he went on to choose other stars, including Argentine Ángel Di María, whom he preferred over Giggs, as well as Welshman Gareth Bale, German Mesut Özil, and Dutchman Arjen Robben.

Salah also decided to pick Frenchman Antoine Griezmann over Di María and Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov, before choosing Rivaldo over Griezmann. The most striking choice came when Salah expressed admiration for Argentine star Diego Maradona, preferring him over Rivaldo.

However, the most eye-catching moment in this fascinating comparison came when Salah selected Lionel Messi as the best left-footed player in history, surpassing even Maradona and himself. This decision aligns with his deep belief that Messi represents the pinnacle of football excellence in terms of technique and skill.

Salah’s choice of Messi reflects the profound respect he holds for the Argentine, who is widely considered the best football player in history. For Salah, Messi is not just a great player but a true embodiment of football perfection that everyone aspires to reach. In this comparison, Salah’s humility is evident as he places himself last among these giants, acknowledging the ability of great players to offer unique things on the field.

These choices also reflect Mohamed Salah's complete awareness of football history and the significance of the players who came before him. They also highlight his readiness to give full credit to the previous generation, free from arrogance or boastfulness. This sportsmanship reflects Salah’s character, who doesn’t just see himself as a shining star in the sky but also values the efforts of those who helped shape the true identity of modern football.

What made this interview even more impactful is that, despite being one of the most prominent left-footed players in the world today, Mohamed Salah remains humble enough to place himself in this context of comparisons. His statements resonate with the personality of a star who gives his best in every match and understands that success is achieved only through hard work and respect for everyone who has helped elevate the game.

Salah’s choices may serve as a message from a great star about the true meaning of competition, which is not only about self-comparison but also about celebrating every player who has contributed to beautiful football, from older generations to the present. These choices may shed light on how legendary players have impacted the development of the game and inspired future generations.

These remarks are sure to spark a wide debate among football fans worldwide, as the discussion about who is the best left-footed player in history continues. However, one thing is certain: Mohamed Salah has positioned himself among the players whose impact goes beyond the pitch, extending to their deep thoughtfulness and ability to respect and appreciate the history of the game.