Mohamed Salah makes History as Egypt’s all-time leading scorer

Mohamed Salah has officially cemented his legacy as Egypt’s greatest-ever goalscorer, netting a late brace in Friday’s 5-0 demolition of Malawi to reach 70 international goals.

The milestone came during a dominant 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying performance that lifted the Pharaohs to the top of Group B and delivered a dream debut for newly appointed head coach Ali Maher.

A Historic Late Surge

At 34 years old, Salah continues to rewrite the record books. Entering Friday’s clash on 68 international goals, the former Liverpool forward needed just two strikes to surpass Egyptian football icon Hossam Hassan, whose record of 69 goals had stood for two decades.

Salah made fans wait until the closing stages to witness history. He drew level with Hassan in the 84th minute, rising to meet a cross with a clinical header. Deep into stoppage time, Salah stepped up to the penalty spot and calmly chipped a Panenka past the Malawi goalkeeper to claim his 70th international goal, sparking wild celebrations on the pitch.

Following the final whistle, Salah acknowledged the achievement on his official social media channels, sharing a photo of himself holding up the number 70.

Settling the Goal-Count Debate

Despite the celebratory mood, Salah’s brace briefly sparked debate across social media and local sports outlets. Some statistical trackers argued that the forward was still one goal shy of the record, questioning the validity of two goals he scored during Egypt’s 10-0 friendly rout of Swaziland (now Eswatini) on March 22, 2013. Critics contended that the fixture did not carry full “A-international” status due to excessive substitutions.

However, FIFA’s official records leave no room for doubt. Ahead of Friday’s match, world football’s governing body had already credited Salah with 68 senior international goals—a tally explicitly recognized by FIFA in June 2026 after Salah found the net against New Zealand at the 2026 World Cup. Friday’s double officially moves him to 70, standing alone atop Egypt’s all-time scoring chart, even as the Egyptian Football Association has yet to issue a formal statement.

Eyes on the Continental Record

With the national record secured, Salah now sets his sights on African football history. Reaching 70 international goals moves him into third place on the continent’s all-time scoring list. He trails only Malawi legend Kinnah Phiri (71 goals) and Zambia’s all-time great Godfrey Chitalu (79 goals).

Egypt will travel to face Malawi in the reverse Group B fixture on Tuesday, November 17. Sitting on seven points from three matches—three points clear of second-place Angola—the Pharaohs are firmly in control of their qualifying campaign, while Salah has an immediate opportunity to equal or surpass Phiri’s tally on Malawian soil.

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