Liverpool s Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side s third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. AP
The former Fiorentina and AS Roma winger ended up in seventh place in the Ballon d’Or vote for the best player in the world for 2021 on Monday night, before being revealed as the Golden Foot Award winner.
The Golden Foot Award, which can be won only once in a lifetime, has been presented by the Monarchy of Monaco since 2003 for outstanding players who are at least 28 years old.
Salah became the first Arab player to win the award and the third African player after Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o.
“Playing in the Serie A helped me a lot,” Salah told Sky Sport Italia.
“I have wonderful memories both in Rome and in Florence, where I received a lot of affection,” he added.
The 29-year-old Egyptian international joined Fiorentina on a six-month loan deal from Premier League side Chelsea in 2015, before moving to AS Roma later in the same year. He then spent two seasons wearing the Roma jersey before returning to England to Join Liverpool in 2017.
“When I was at Chelsea, it was a different type of football and culture, and I felt that I needed to change my playstyle,” said Salah.
“So, I went to Italy and played well; that period was a great help to get to where I am now.”
“I want to send my regards to the fans of both Roma and Fiorentina,” he added.
“I had fantastic moments there in which I always felt the love of the people. I can only thank them.”
Since joining the Reds, Salah quickly proved himself; playing a key role in guiding his team to win the Champions League title in the 2018/19 season and the Premier League in the 2019/20 season.
Salah has just wrapped up another impressive year after finishing last season as the top scorer for his team, bagging 31 goals in all competitions, including 22 Premier League goals, falling one strike short of Tottenham’s Harry Kane, who won the golden boot.
The Egyptian winger is leading the race this season with 11 goals in 13 Premier League appearances in addition to seven assists that put him on top of both charts.
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