Mo Salah, the World Cup’s “Egyptian King,” explained

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Mo Salah, the World Cup’s "Egyptian King," explained

The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicks off Thursday (Get it? Kicks? Like a soccer ball?), and all eyes are on rising star Mohamed “Mo” Salah of Egypt.

Salah is treasured across the United Kingdom and the Middle East for his outstanding athletic prowess. He is Egypt’s best player, a forward for Liverpool, and the record-holder for the most goals scored in a single premier-league season in England (an accomplishment he made in his first season in England).

Benjamin Koevary

But he is also a beloved Arab Muslim whose stardom has helped counteract Islamophobia in Europe and all over the world. In the UK, which some reports say has seen a 47 percent spike in hate crimes related to Islamophobia in 2016, Liverpool fans love Salah so much, they sing fan chants with lyrics: “If he scores another few, then I’ll be Muslim too” and “Sitting in the mosque, that’s where I wanna be.”

Rory Smith, the New York Times’s chief soccer correspondent, explains:

For more about about Mo, the World Cup, and the unfortunate reality of persistent racism in sports, listen to the latest episode of Today, Explained.

Related reading:

  • Mo Salah of Liverpool breaks down cultural barriers, one goal at a time (Rory Smith, New York Times)
  • Mo Salah is the unifying force the world needs right now (Afshin Molavi, Washington Post)
  • With all eyes on Russia for the World Cup, officials aim to stamp out racism in the stands (Chris Brown, CBC News)

How do I get even more Today, Explained?

You can get the news we’re reading throughout the day, facts and stats to make you smarter about the world, and behind-the-scenes photos on Twitter at @Today_Explained. You can follow Sean Rameswaram at @Rameswaram, Rory Smith at @RorySmith, and Mo Salah at @MoSalah.

How do I report a problem?

For all issues or feedback, please email [email protected].

How do I listen?

If you don’t see the player above, you can listen, subscribe, and review Today, Explained on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, and Google Play Music.

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Sourse: breakingnews.ie

Mo Salah, the World Cup’s “Egyptian King,” explained

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