Mohamed Salah’s form at Liverpool has earned him praise from the top of the football world, with Brazil legend Pele revealed to be a big fan.
The 25-year-old returned to English football over the summer, two years after bringing a forgettable spell at Chelsea to a close.
While he was unable to make his mark with the Blues, Salah has been a revelation at Anfield.
He has already offered a 19-goal return on Liverpool’s £36.9 million investment, with his efforts seeing him named the club’s Player of the Month on three occasions and BBC African Player of the Year.
In paying homage to those triumphs, World Cup winner and all-time great Pele posted on Twitter: “Parabéns [Congratulations], @22MoSalah! It's been an incredible year! Keep going and I look forward to seeing you play on the greatest stage next year - the World Cup.”
Parabéns, @22MoSalah! It's been an incredible year! Keep going and I look forward to seeing you play on the greatest stage next year - the World Cup. https://t.co/1QYSqBboM0
— Pelé (@Pele) December 13, 2017
Salah made just 19 appearances for Chelsea and netted two goals.
His haul for Liverpool has been achieved in just 24 games, with the 25-year-old having already bettered the achievements of some legendary forwards from the club’s past.
The Reds always knew what they were getting, with Salah having forged a reputation as a goal-scoring winger in Italy with Fiorentina and Roma, but he has surpassed all expectations.
His talismanic displays have not been restricted to domestic competition either, with a match-winning brace against Congo – including a last-gasp penalty – carrying Egypt to the 2018 World Cup and a first appearance on that global stage in 28 years.