Mohamed Salah is widely regarded as one of the greatest forwards of his generation. Since joining Liverpool in 2017, the Egyptian international has shattered records in the Premier League, Champions League, and beyond, amassing over 240 goals and 110 assists in his club career alone.
However, when it comes to the biggest stages, Salah's output tells a different story. Despite participating in numerous high-stakes matches for both club and country, his contributions have often been minimal, leading to discussions about a "poor record" in finals. After blanking and missing a penalty in the Community Shield on Sunday, we've reviewed his stats in Finals.
The Stark Statistics
Mo Salah has appeared in approximately 14 major finals across his career with Liverpool, Egypt, and earlier clubs. In these matches, he has scored just 2 goals (both from penalties) and provided 2 assists. Remarkably, he has yet to score a single goal from open play in any final, despite accumulating around 1,354 minutes on the pitch. This equates to:
- Minutes per goal: 677
- Minutes per non-penalty goal: N/A (no open-play goals)
- Minutes per goal or assist: 338
Salah's finals have resulted in 6 wins and 8 losses, highlighting that while team success has occasionally come his way, his individual impact has been limited. In fact, recent reports note that he has gone five consecutive finals without a goal or assist, a drought not seen in his previous 391 games. For a player of his caliber, who averages a goal every 104 minutes in the Premier League, this discrepancy is striking.
Breakdown of Salah's Finals Appearances
Below is a comprehensive list of the major finals Salah has participated in, including the competition, opponent, result, final score, and Salah's personal contributions.
| # | Date | Competition | Opponent | Result | Score | Salah's Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 5, 2017 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Final | Cameroon | Loss | 1-2 | 1 assist (for Egypt's goal), 0 goals; played full match (~90 min) |
| 2 | May 26, 2018 | UEFA Champions League Final | Real Madrid | Loss | 1-3 | 0 goals, 0 assists; injured and substituted after 31 min |
| 3 | June 1, 2019 | UEFA Champions League Final | Tottenham Hotspur | Win | 2-0 | 1 goal (penalty in 2nd min), 0 assists; played full match (~90 min) |
| 4 | August 4, 2019 | FA Community Shield | Manchester City | Loss | 1-1 (4-5 pens) | 0 goals, 0 assists; played 90 min, scored in penalty shootout (not counted as match goal) |
| 5 | August 14, 2019 | UEFA Super Cup | Chelsea | Win | 2-2 (5-4 pens) | 0 goals, 0 assists; played 120 min, scored in penalty shootout (not counted as match goal) |
| 6 | December 21, 2019 | FIFA Club World Cup Final | Flamengo | Win | 1-0 (aet) | 0 goals, 0 assists; played 120 min |
| 7 | August 29, 2020 | FA Community Shield | Arsenal | Loss | 1-1 (4-5 pens) | 0 goals, 0 assists; played 90 min, scored in penalty shootout (not counted as match goal) |
| 8 | February 6, 2022 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Final | Senegal | Loss | 0-0 (2-4 pens) | 0 goals, 0 assists; played 120 min, missed penalty in shootout |
| 9 | February 27, 2022 | Carabao Cup (League Cup) Final | Chelsea | Win | 0-0 (11-10 pens) | 0 goals, 0 assists; played 120 min, scored in penalty shootout |
| 10 | May 14, 2022 | FA Cup Final | Chelsea | Win | 0-0 (6-5 pens) | 0 goals, 0 assists; injured and substituted after 33 min |
| 11 | May 28, 2022 | UEFA Champions League Final | Real Madrid | Loss | 0-1 | 0 goals, 0 assists; played 90 min |
| 12 | July 30, 2022 | FA Community Shield | Manchester City | Win | 3-1 | 1 goal (penalty), 1 assist (for Trent Alexander-Arnold's goal); played full match (~90 min) |
| 13 | March 16, 2025 | Carabao Cup (League Cup) Final | Newcastle United | Loss | 1-2 | 0 goals, 0 assists; played full match (~90 min); described as "anonymous" performance |
| 14 | Sunday 10th August | FA Community Shield | Crystal Palace | Loss | 2-2 (lost on pens) | 0 goals, 0 assists; played full match, missed penalty in shootout |
In these games, Salah's two goals came from penalties: one in the 2019 Champions League Final and one in the 2022 Community Shield. His assists were in the 2017 AFCON Final and the 2022 Community Shield. Notably, in 13 of these finals, he failed to score from open play, amassing over 1,000 minutes without a non-penalty goal.
Injuries disrupted his performances in three finals (2018 CL, 2022 FA Cup, and he was fully sidelined in 2024 League Cup), but even in full appearances, goals eluded him. For Egypt, both AFCON Finals ended in heartbreak, with Salah unable to turn the tide despite his heroics in earlier rounds.
Possible Explanations
While the stats highlight a poor record, it's important to contextualize. Finals are often cagey affairs with high defensive intensity, and Salah is frequently the focal point of opposition tactics. Teams double- or triple-mark him, limiting his space—a strategy less common in league games where Liverpool dominate possession. Additionally, Salah has delivered in semi-finals and quarter-finals, such as his crucial goals en route to Liverpool's 2018 and 2019 Champions League Finals.
Despite the individual drought, Salah has won six trophies from these finals: multiple domestic cups, one Champions League, one Super Cup, one Club World Cup, and one Community Shield. His overall career haul includes multiple Premier League titles (including 2024/25), making him a serial winner. Yet, the finals record remains a blemish, often cited by detractors questioning his "big-game" mentality.
Conclusion
Mohamed Salah's poor record in finals is a fascinating anomaly in an otherwise stellar career. With only two penalty goals and two assists in over a dozen appearances, and zero open-play strikes, it underscores how even the best players can falter under the brightest lights.
As Liverpool chase more silverware in the 2025/26 season, fans will hope Salah breaks this curse and adds more decisive moments to his legacy. Until then, this statistic serves as a reminder that football's greatest stages can humble anyone.
