Who Are the Egyptian Best Football Players Dominating the Pitch Today?
The sun was dipping behind the Cairo International Stadium, casting long shadows across the empty pitch. I was there, not for a match, but to meet an old friend who works as a groundsman. As we walked along the touchline, the ghost of roars from 80,000 fans still seemed to linger in the evening air. He gestured to the perfectly manicured grass and said, “You know, this is where they write the stories now. Not just one story, either.” He was right. For years, the narrative of Egyptian football was singular, almost monolithic. But as I stood there, I realized the question isn’t just about one name anymore; it’s about a constellation. So, who are the Egyptian best football players dominating the pitch today?
The obvious star, the one whose light reaches every corner of the globe, needs no introduction. Mohamed Salah isn’t just a player; he’s an institution. With over 200 goals for Liverpool and countless individual awards, his numbers are the stuff of legend. I remember watching him in the 2018 World Cup, that shoulder injury, the heartbreak. Yet, he came back. That’s his dominance—a relentless, season-after-season excellence that has redefined what’s possible for an African and Arab footballer on the world’s biggest stages. But dominance isn’t just about scoring. It’s about influence. And that’s where the landscape gets interesting.
My friend pointed towards the center circle. “The young ones, they watch him, but they are learning to walk their own path.” This brought to mind a quote I’d read recently from a rising leader in the Philippine basketball scene, which, strangely, felt perfectly applicable here: “Just trying to be positive always especially for us, a young team, a very, very young team, and just make sure to set an example. I think that’s it. Wala namang ibang secret sa pagiging leader.” That ethos—leading by example for a new generation—is precisely what’s fueling Egypt’s current wave of talent. It’s no longer a one-man show.
Take Mohamed Elneny. He’s the steady heartbeat in Arsenal’s midfield, the unsung hero. He may not grab headlines like Salah, but ask any Gunners fan about his importance, especially in big European nights. His dominance is in consistency, professionalism, and that unbreakable spirit. Then there’s Trezeguet (Mahmoud Hassan). I have a soft spot for him, I admit. His tireless, almost frantic energy on the wing for Trabzonspor and the national team is infectious. He’s the kind of player who dominates through sheer will, chasing lost causes and turning them into opportunities. His two crucial goals in the 2019 AFCON run were not just skillful; they were defiant.
But let’s talk about the present and the future. The pitch today is also being commanded by players like Mohamed Sherif, Al Ahly’s prolific striker who seems to score for fun in the CAF Champions League. Or Ahmed “Koka” Hassan, that towering presence up front who’s a nightmare for any defender on his day. And how can we ignore the guardians between the posts? Mohamed El Shenawy, with his calm authority and crucial saves, has been arguably the world’s best club goalkeeper over the last few years, leading Al Ahly to multiple continental titles. My friend nudged me, “You see? The goal, the midfield, the wings, the defense… it’s everywhere now.”
This new collective dominance was crystallized for me in the 2021 AFCON final. Yes, Salah was there, but it was Abdelmonem who headed in the opener, and it was El Shenawy’s heroics in the shootout that sealed it. It was a triumph of a unit, a generation learning to shoulder the burden together. They are setting an example for each other. The secret isn’t in having one luminous star, but in having several who know how to form a constellation. The pressure on the “golden generation” after Salah is immense, but they are navigating it by being positive, by being leaders for each other in their own ways.
Walking out of the stadium, the city lights began to twinkle. The question of who are the Egyptian best football players dominating the pitch today has a layered answer. It’s still Salah, the global icon whose shadow is both an inspiration and a challenge. But it’s also Elneny’s grit, Trezeguet’s heart, El Shenawy’s calm, and the emerging hunger of the next wave. They dominate not as isolated peaks, but as a mountain range. They are writing multiple stories on that pitch, and honestly, as a fan, that’s far more exciting to watch. The era of a single pharaoh on the field is evolving into the reign of a powerful, united dynasty. And the best part? This story is only just beginning.
