Mohamed Salah invited former Egypt international Moamen Zakaria into the Liverpool dressing room after Saturday's FA Cup final victory over Chelsea. Check out the video below.
Jurgen Klopp's side defeated the Blues on penalties for a second time this season, running out 6-5 winners at Wembley.
Salah was substituted in the first half and didn't take part in the shootout but he was part of the celebrations.
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Egyptian outlet FilGoal have confirmed Zakaria was a special post-match guest of Salah's.
If you're unaware of Zakaria's story, it's a heartbreaking one. He was once regarded as one of Egypt's finest talents and he won three Premier League titles in his homeland.
The 34-year-old also made 12 appearances for the national team. His last involvement in a professional game was 2018 and tragically, in 2020, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS.)
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ALS is a neurodegenerative disease which affects the brain and there's tragically no cure.
It ended Zakaria's career and he's not played a professional game since 2018. He's also appears to need a wheelchair.
That didn't stop Liverpool's players from partying with Zakaria like he's one of their own, letting him hold the trophy as Salah filmed it all. A touch of class from everyone involved.
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Salah started the final in attack but didn't get into the game much and was replaced by Diogo Jota just past the half hour mark.
Many wondered if it'd put the 29-year-old at doubt for the Champions League final against Real Madrid later this month.
The former Roma man had been vocal in his desire to face Los Blancos once again, after going off injured in the 2018 final/
Klopp offered an update on Salah as well as Virgil van Dijk, who made way for Joel Matip at the start of extra time.
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"Mo came and he said he could carry on, but I felt a little thing," Klopp told ITV. "I hope he will be fine."
On van Dijk, he said he did have a small problem but hoped he'd be 'fine' to play a part in their remaining Premier League games and that huge final out in Paris.
Van Dijk himself explained: "Hopefully well, we’re going to check it out. I felt in the first half when I sprinted, I felt a twinge behind my knee, I played on. In the end, I can’t risk it for the team and I need to trust Joel. Hopefully it will be fine."
Topics: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, FA Cup
Daniel Marland