Mohamed Salah, captain of the Egyptian national team, continued to add another chapter to his remarkable career after being named Man of the Match for the second time at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following his leadership role in Egypt's historic qualification to the Round of 16 for the first time in the nation's World Cup history.

Salah earned the award after delivering an outstanding performance in Egypt's Round of 32 clash against Australia, which ended with the Pharaohs securing a 4-2 victory on penalties after the match had finished 1-1 following regular and extra time at Dallas Stadium in the United States.

This marked the second time Salah has won the Man of the Match award during the current tournament, having previously received the honor after Egypt's group-stage match against New Zealand, further cementing his status as one of the standout stars of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Salah's Tears

Mohamed Salah was unable to hold back his emotions after the final whistle and was seen in tears during his post-match television interview as he reflected on Egypt's historic achievement.

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"We made history. I'm very happy with this victory," Salah said while expressing his joy after Egypt's landmark qualification.

The Egyptian captain also revealed the thinking behind his Panenka penalty during the shootout, saying: "I told myself that if this is my last World Cup, then I have to take the penalty this way," highlighting the emotional significance of the moment.

Second Award

Despite not scoring during the match itself, Salah played a pivotal role in leading Egypt's attack, creating several dangerous opportunities and confidently converting his penalty in the shootout, earning widespread praise from fans and pundits alike.

Egypt had taken the lead through Emam Ashour in the 13th minute before Australia equalized through an own goal. The match eventually went to extra time and penalties, where the Pharaohs prevailed to continue their historic journey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and book a place in the Round of 16 against the winner of Argentina and Cape Verde.