Riyad Mahrez vs Mohamed Salah
Algeria against Egypt. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Riyad Mahrez
Algeria · 2016–23 · RM
- Almanac rating
- 90
- Rank in Algeria
- #2 of 33
- Caps
- 120 · 40 goals
- Clubs
- Leicester City, Manchester City, Al Ahli
- Honours
- national Player of the Year 2016 · Hall of Fame 2019
Nigeria built a wall and laid a man on the grass behind it in the fifth minute of stoppage time in the 2019 semi-final, and Mahrez curled the free kick over both into the top corner. Algeria won that Africa Cup of Nations, and he collected five English league titles, one with Leicester in 2016 and four at Manchester City, the 2023 Champions League, and African Footballer of the Year in 2016. Career record: 120 caps and 40 goals for Algeria; club career at Leicester City, Manchester City, Al Ahli; honours include national Player of the Year 2016, Hall of Fame 2019.
Mohamed Salah
Egypt · 2017–25 · RM
- Almanac rating
- 93
- Rank in Egypt
- #1 of 33
- Caps
- 115 · 67 goals
- Clubs
- Al Mokawloon Al Arab SC, FC Basel, Liverpool
- Honours
- The Best FIFA award 2018 · 2× African Footballer of the Year (2017–2017) · Golden Boot 2018
His first season at Liverpool ended with 32 league goals in 38 games, still the most anyone has managed in a 38-match Premier League season. The Champions League followed a year later, opened by his penalty inside two minutes of the final against Tottenham; two Premier League titles in 2020 and 2025, four Golden Boots, the Club World Cup and African Footballer of the Year in both 2017 and 2018 sit beside it. Career record: 115 caps and 67 goals for Egypt; club career at Al Mokawloon Al Arab SC, FC Basel, Liverpool; honours include The Best FIFA award 2018, 2× African Footballer of the Year (2017–2017), Golden Boot 2018.
The verdict
The almanac puts Mohamed Salah ahead by 3 rating points, 93 against 90.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.