Egyptian captain Mohamed Salah gave a cheeky smile to Australian goalkeeper Matthew Ryan after his Panenka penalty in Egypt's World Cup shootout victory on Friday
22:56, 03 Jul 2026
Mohamed Salah laughed after he sent Matt Ryan sprawling
Mohamed Salah laughed after he sent Matt Ryan sprawling
Mohamed Salah helped the Egyptian national team make history on Friday in Dallas by scoring his penalty in the winning shootout over Australia to secure his nation's first-ever World Cup knockout win. He earned the contest's Man of the Match award for his efforts.
Salah's penalty wasn't his typical top-corner finish: the all-time Egyptian top-scorer deftly shot a panenka down the middle of veteran goalkeeper Matthew Ryan's net. Ryan only subbed in for penalties at the end of extra time.
Salah, who entered the game as a massive injury doubt, let out both a cheeky smile and a little laugh before he looked at Ryan following his finish, either in relief or to farm a textbook "cold" moment. Either way, Egypt held on for the rest of the shootout to set up a World Cup Round of 16 date against the winner of Argentina-Cape Verde.
The paneka was the second Salah had taken for Egypt in recent memory. In his nation's first game at AFCON 2025, he slotted a Panenka penalty past South Africa.
So why did he take one today? He was asked by the BBC how "cold" his penalty was. "If somebody was going to do it, it would be me!" Salah said post-game. "I am more experienced than others, and I wanted to give them confidence. I decided last minute, I had to do it."
Mohamed Salah
Australian goalkeeper Matthew Ryan almost got to Salah's chip
After Hossam Abdelmaguid's decisive penalty went in, Salah first walked over to the inconsolable Australian players around the center circle. Then, he jogged over to celebrate with his Egyptian teammates.
"It's history. I told the boys before the game that this is the biggest stage you can play on. Enjoy it and don't let the pressure get to you." Salah added in his postgame message.
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"I'm glad that we managed to in the game, bad luck for them. I'm happy that we wrote history today."
Salah has just a single goal at the 2026 World Cup so far — the go-ahead strike against New Zealand in Egypt's second match — though he has provided two assists. The two-time Premier League winner is still without a club for next season after officially leaving Liverpool in May.
Speaking on the FOX broadcast after Egypt's win. Former World Cup winner and longtime Arsenal striker Thierry Henry saluted the Pharaoh's performance. “Egypt are through to the Round of 16 for the first time in their history — you have to applaud that," Henry said.
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"They showed real character in the end, holding their nerve in the penalty shootout (winning 4-2) and advancing. Mohamed Salah and the boys have made their nation proud tonight."