Essam El-Hadary Claims He and Mohamed Salah Are Egypt's Only "Legendary" Players

Egyptian football legend Essam El-Hadary has sparked controversy by recently claiming that he and Mohamed Salah are the only two players in the history of Egyptian football who can be considered “legends”. The former goalkeeper, who was a key figure in Egypt’s golden generation that won three consecutive Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2006, 2008 and 2010, insisted that while many Egyptian players can be considered “local legends”, only he and Salah deserve to be called “global legends”.

El-Hadary's career spanned over two decades, and he became the oldest player ever to participate in a World Cup match, playing at 45 years and 161 days during the 2018 tournament in Russia. In a recent television interview, the 50-year-old was adamant that the "numbers and everything" prove that Salah is a global legend. To whether any other players might be regarded as legendary, El-Hadary adamantly responded, "No one."

Between 1996 and 2018, El-Hadary earned 159 caps for Egypt and played in 564 club games, mostly for the well-known Egyptian teams Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily. He also had international stints with Sion of Switzerland, Al-Taawoun of Saudi Arabia, and Al-Merrikh of Sudan.

El-Hadary's statements have reignited debates about his legacy and the status of other Egyptian football stars in the global arena.