[Mohamed Salah] is set to depart from [Liverpool] this summer, having established himself as one of the Premier League’s all-time greats. He may well be considered the greatest of all.
Salah’s achievements have rightfully earned him the top spot in the Premier League’s historical rankings, surpassing legends like Wayne Rooney, [Kevin De Bruyne, Ryan Giggs, [Cristiano Ronaldo, and Thierry Henry.
Debates over rankings are inherently subjective, and arguments suggesting Salah ranks above notable figures like Henry or De Bruyne are often met with fierce reactions from fans of [Arsenal] and [Manchester City]. [Manchester United] supporters also tend to dismiss the idea that their legends Rooney, Giggs, or Ronaldo could be surpassed by anyone outside Old Trafford.
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To be considered the greatest, a player must demonstrate remarkable success over both personal achievements and team contributions, along with sustained excellence. While many players can claim success and endurance, the elite elevate their games to become essential to their teams, providing that pivotal spark to drive their sides to triumph. Salah undoubtedly fits this mold.
However, Rooney, De Bruyne, and Henry also share similar attributes, while Giggs’s legacy is defined by his two-decade-long tenure, securing multiple trophies for United and evolving from a young winger to a profound creative influence. So how do we differentiate Salah from these iconic contemporaries?
Consider Rooney first. The former United and [England] star is often underrated in discussions of the top Premier League player, but he undeniably belongs in that elite conversation. He burst onto the scene as a teenage sensation, debuting with [Everton] at just 16 before becoming the world’s most expensive teenager when he transferred to United for £27 million at age 18 in 2004.
Rooney possessed a complete skill set: pace, strength, tactical intelligence, and the capability to score decisive and spectacular goals. He is one of only three players, alongside Alan Shearer and [Harry Kane], to exceed 200 Premier League goals. He secured 12 major trophies with United, including five Premier League titles and a [Champions League]. Despite his accolades, Rooney often played alongside other legends at United, and Sir Alex Ferguson leaned on him less than Liverpool has relied on Salah, who has consistently been the focal point at Anfield.
Next, let’s examine De Bruyne. For a decade, the [Belgian] midfielder has been a dominant force in the Premier League with City, capturing 16 major titles, including six league crowns and a Champions League. He has been an indispensable figure for both Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola.
With a remarkable total of 119 Premier League assists, only Giggs (162) has more, and he shares the record for single-season assists (20) with Henry. Additionally, De Bruyne has netted 72 goals from midfield, with 15 coming in the 2021-22 season alone. Nevertheless, injuries have marred De Bruyne’s fitness during his decade with City, which affects his standing as the league’s top player. Over ten seasons, he made 285 Premier League appearances, missing nearly 100 games due to injury, equivalent to 2½ seasons.
To be deemed the greatest, availability is crucial, and Salah has been remarkably consistent in this regard since joining Liverpool in 2017. He has featured in 335 league matches, sitting out only 25, 19 of which were due to [Africa Cup of Nations] commitments with [Egypt]. In total, he has missed merely six games in nearly nine years due to injury.
Ronaldo had a similar level of durability during his initial spell at United from 2003 to 2009, missing just eight games due to injury. He was an absolute sensation during his formative years at the club, claiming every major title at least once and serving as a pivotal figure in Ferguson’s team during their three consecutive title victories from 2007 to 2009. Yet, he scored fewer than 100 goals during that first stint, falling short in terms of longevity when compared to Salah.
This brings us to Henry, the Arsenal “Invincible,” who frequently tops lists of the greatest Premier League players for good reason.
Henry was an extraordinary goal scorer, known for his elegance, speed, and daring nature. His charisma made him an advertising favorite, and he was the quintessential face of the Premier League in the early 2000s. Although Arsenal’s squad included stars like Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires, and Ashley Cole, Henry was the standout player that opponents feared the most.
Henry’s 175 goals in 258 Premier League matches boast a higher goals-per-game ratio than Salah’s 191 goals in 323 appearances; however, Arsenal was already an elite team when he joined. Wenger had guided them to a league and FA Cup double just a year prior, meaning Henry added to an already successful squad.
In contrast, Salah arrived at Liverpool when the club was nearing a 30-year drought without a league title (since 1990) and had only secured one trophy in the past decade—the 2012 League Cup. He played a pivotal role in resuscitating Liverpool’s fortunes, while Henry joined a club that had already ascended to greatness. Moreover, Henry left Arsenal for [Barcelona] in 2007 without winning the Champions League—something Salah, De Bruyne, Ronaldo, and Rooney all managed to achieve.
Salah was instrumental in Liverpool’s Champions League triumph in 2019, contributing 10 goals and five assists as Klopp’s squad clinched the title for the sixth time. He was also a key figure in Liverpool’s two Premier League championships, securing the title in 2019-20 and 2024-25, and now stands alongside Anfield icons like Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard among the greatest players in the club’s history.
Like Henry, Salah has reached the milestone of a 20-goal Premier League season on five separate occasions—only Alan Shearer, Kane, and Sergio Agüero have done so more often. He also stands out as the only player to have won both the PFA Player of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the Year awards three times.
In summary, Salah has achieved every major club honor at least once, maintained peak performance at Liverpool for nearly a decade, boasts an outstanding fitness record, and has consistently scored in critical matches since his arrival at Anfield from [AS Roma] almost nine years ago. Therefore, as he prepares to exit the Premier League stage at the end of this season, it is clear that Salah will leave the league’s pantheon of legends without anyone above him.
He has truly been that exceptional.