Egyptian football captain Mohamed Salah has written another remarkable chapter in his international career after becoming his country’s all-time leading goalscorer with 70 goals.
The Trabzonspor forward achieved the milestone on Friday, November 13, 2026, after scoring twice in Egypt’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Malawi in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at the Cairo International Stadium.
Salah’s double took his international tally beyond the previous record of 69 goals held by former Egyptian striker and national team coach Hossam Hassan, establishing him as the Pharaohs’ leading marksman.
The 34-year-old waited until the closing stages of the encounter to make his mark on the scoresheet, but his contribution ensured that an already impressive Egyptian performance ended with a historic personal achievement.
Egypt had taken control of the match early, with Nasser Maher opening the scoring in the sixth minute before Omar Marmoush doubled the advantage four minutes later.
Mohamed Hany added a third goal in the 39th minute with an impressive long-range effort, giving the hosts a comfortable 3-0 lead before the interval.
Malawi struggled to contain Egypt’s attacking movement, while the home side continued to create opportunities after the restart.
Salah, who had been searching for a goal throughout the contest, eventually found the breakthrough in the 83rd minute.
The Egyptian captain connected with a cross from substitute Ibrahim Adel and guided a close-range header into the net to make it 4-0.
That goal brought him level with Hassan’s long-standing national scoring record, setting the stage for an even more memorable moment.
Deep into stoppage time, Egypt were awarded a penalty after substitute Hamza Abdelkarim was brought down inside the penalty area.
Salah stepped forward and calmly converted the spot kick with a Panenka finish, delicately chipping the ball past the goalkeeper to complete Egypt’s victory and register his landmark 70th international goal.
The celebration marked a significant moment for the former Liverpool forward, whose contribution to Egyptian football has extended well beyond his performances at club level.
Salah made his senior international debut for Egypt in 2011 and has since made 123 appearances for the national team.
Over the years, he has established himself as one of the country’s most influential footballers, leading the national side through several major international competitions and becoming a central figure in its attacking setup.
His latest achievement also moves him ahead of Hossam Hassan, whose record had stood as the benchmark for Egyptian international football.
Hassan, who represented Egypt between 1985 and 2006, remains one of the country’s most celebrated football figures. His scoring record had stood for years before Salah’s latest performance against Malawi.
The achievement comes as another milestone in Salah’s distinguished career, which has seen him enjoy considerable success in European football.
During his time at Liverpool, he became one of the Premier League’s most prolific forwards, winning major domestic and European honours while establishing himself as a key figure in the club’s modern history.
His move to Turkish side Trabzonspor has provided another chapter in his career, but his latest international achievement further underlines his importance to Egyptian football.
Egypt’s victory also gave newly appointed head coach Ali Maher a winning start following his appointment to replace Hossam Hassan.
The result moved the Pharaohs to the top of Group B with seven points from three matches, placing them three points ahead of Angola at the time of the result.
For Egypt, the convincing victory provides a positive start under the new technical leadership as the team continues its campaign to secure qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The two countries are scheduled to meet again on Tuesday, November 17, in Lilongwe, Malawi, for the return fixture.
Salah will be hoping to maintain his scoring form as Egypt seek another victory and strengthen their position in the qualifying group.
Meanwhile, the debate surrounding Egypt’s all-time international scoring records has attracted attention because of differences in how some historical matches are counted. The 70-goal tally is recognised by major international reports and the Confederation of African Football, although the Egyptian Football Association has yet to issue a separate confirmation of the record.
Egypt’s All-Time Leading Scorers
- Mohamed Salah – 70 goals
- Hossam Hassan – 69 goals
- Hassan El-Shazly – 49 goals
- El-Sayed El-Dhizui – 41 goals
- Mohamed Aboutrika – 38 goals
With 70 international goals now to his name, Salah has added another major individual achievement to his career and strengthened his place among the most influential footballers in Egypt’s history.
