Mohamed Salah is many things to many people.
He’s the man who fired his home nation of Egypt to their first World Cup berth in 28 years, the Liverpool winger who tore up the Premier League record book, and he’s arguably the highest-profile Muslim athlete on the world stage.
[jwplayer ufxzSg8Y]
As of a few days ago, Mohamed Salah also became the subject of a statue – a statue which might just rival that infamous bust of Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the most puzzling artworks commemorating a world-class footballing talent.
Egypt Independent reports that local sculptor Mai Abdel Alleh presented the likeness at the World Youth Forum in Sharm al-Sheikh, after being inspired by the 26-year-old’s impact on Egypt’s young guns.
The statue features Salah looking skywards with his arms extended, which is a regular sight for fans of The Pharoahs and the Reds alike. That’s where the traditional likeness ends, though, as the sculpture takes a fairly liberal license on the footballer’s appearance.
The sculpture has already drawn reactions from fans online, who have compared the artwork’s appearance to that of former Arsenal gaffer Arsene Wenger, singer Leo Sayer, and basically every other pop-culture figure with a remotely boofy hairstyle.
https://twitter.com/Weener14/status/1059148699404849152
Why does this statue of Mo Salah look like Leo Sayer? pic.twitter.com/J3XZSMDe7m
— Katy (@whatkatydid_nxt) November 4, 2018
Mo Salah statue artist is a 2 Broke Girls Fan? #statue #mosalah #egypt pic.twitter.com/cniQRnOWPx
— Sokkah Tragic (@jordansfootball) November 4, 2018
That Mo Salah statue reminds me of Marv from Home Alone pic.twitter.com/Dch0iPAMSO
— liam (@Lbrennan07) November 4, 2018
Statue of Mo Salah looking very Michael Sheen pic.twitter.com/63DSBCQ9wN
— mushu (@apricater) November 4, 2018
😳 There was a Mo Salah statue unveiling today and we think we’ve found the inspiration…#LFC pic.twitter.com/cbaa3FvD5K
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) November 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/zadddylonglegs/status/1059125096466599937
For what it’s worth, Ronaldo went on to win two Champions League trophies in a row after his bung-eyed bust was revealed, including in a 3-1 win over Salah’s Liverpool this year.
We can only assume Salah will power his side to the highest echelons of club football due to the immense power of his new, miniature likeness.
