Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool Career Ends in Injury as Egypt Fear World Cup Fitness Crisis

Mohamed Salah has in all likelihood made his final appearance for Liverpool after sustaining a hamstring injury during the club’s 3-1 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace, casting serious doubt over his fitness for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

Egypt national team director Ibrahim Hassan confirmed the extent of the injury, telling Reuters: “He has suffered a hamstring tear and will require four weeks of treatment.” The injury rules Salah out of the remainder of the Premier League season and, given that his departure from the club had already been announced, means his exit from Anfield will not come on the pitch.

The 33-year-old departs as Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer in history. Despite his campaign being curtailed, Salah still managed 12 goals and nine assists across the current season — numbers that underline his enduring influence even in what has proven to be his final year at the club. His nine-year spell at Anfield was defined by sustained excellence and a haul of major honours.

While Hassan expressed confidence that Salah would be fit in time for the World Cup, Egypt will be monitoring his recovery closely given the tournament’s proximity. According to reports, Salah is determined to return to full fitness before the competition begins, with the memory of the 2018 World Cup in Russia serving as a cautionary backdrop. That summer, a shoulder injury sustained in the UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid compromised his preparations and limited his effectiveness throughout Egypt’s group-stage campaign, which ended without a single victory.

Egypt have been drawn in Group G for the 2026 World Cup alongside Belgium, New Zealand, and Iran. The group presents a navigable path to the knockout rounds, but Salah’s involvement will be pivotal to Egypt’s prospects of advancing. His ability to influence matches at the highest level makes his fitness status one of the more closely watched injury situations ahead of the tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first edition to feature 48 nations and is scheduled to begin in June. Egypt’s campaign will be under significant scrutiny, with Salah expected to be the focal point of their attack should he recover in time.

Four weeks of treatment, as outlined by Hassan, would place Salah’s return to fitness in late May — potentially leaving limited time for match sharpness before the tournament kicks off. Whether Egypt’s medical and coaching staff will consider him sufficiently prepared remains to be seen, but the national federation has publicly backed his chances of featuring.