Last season’s darling of Liverpool F.C. Mohamed Salah is the subject of a rather unfortunate bronze statue. The work was unveiled in the last couple of days in Mo’s home country of Egypt at the World Youth Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh. The footballer is depicted in his trademark pose celebrating a goal against West Bromwich Albion in April of this year, however the similarity is uncanny — and not in its likeness.
The work of Egyptian sculptor Mia Abdel Allah has been mocked online since its reveal, garnering mass social media collages likening the statue to the likes of Art Garfunkel, Leo Sayer. Basically, anyone that has big curly hair that isn’t Mo Salah.
The statue harks back to the controversial bust of Ronaldo by Emanuel Jorge da Silva Santos at Madeira airport, who has since spoken out about the grief that the viral trolling comments caused him and his family. Although the original mould used to cast the statue seems to resemble the Liverpool star, the bronze outcome is far from accurate. The sculptor is said to be taking the criticism with “politeness and respect” and is already working on her next project that will exhibit next month in Egypt.
The statue was revealed to thousands, including Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in an event promoting peace and prosperity. Mo was chosen as the subject as a man who represents Egyptian excellence scoring 32 goals in his debut season with Liverpool and as the catalyst for Egypt qualifying for the 2018 World Cup for the first time in 28 years.
Mia Abdel Allah
This Mo Salah statue is certainly something… pic.twitter.com/DPE0k9iBlg
— Mo Salah Facts (@MoSalahFacts) November 4, 2018
Why does the statue of @MoSalah look more like #ArtGarfunkel? pic.twitter.com/wFd7dNulrC
— Америко (Américo) (@Americo_Martinx) November 5, 2018
Tbf, mo salah does look like Marv from home alone pic.twitter.com/y0jMWi6aPR
— Whinney gbeng (@bwhinney15) November 4, 2018
A new @MoSalah statue was unveiled today… And it's different? pic.twitter.com/NY17yhRxyl
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) November 4, 2018
WTAF?!! Salah statue manages to be worse than last years Ronaldo bust pic.twitter.com/F6k47JmMe1
— Mike (@M1KE_LFC) November 5, 2018
That new statue of Mo Salah looks familiar pic.twitter.com/W84D1nMZIk
— Jamés (@utdsupreme) November 4, 2018
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Jyni joined It’s Nice That as an editorial assistant in August 2018 after graduating from The Glasgow School of Art’s Communication Design degree. In March 2019 she became a staff writer and in June 2021, she was made associate editor.