Egyptian football star Mo Salah recently got an unusual tribute in his home country that has left people around the world in stitches. Celebrating his exemplary performance this year for Liverpool and nation’s successful push to qualify for 2018 FIFA football World Cup, a bronze statue of the star was unveiled in Eygpt — but sadly it looked nothing like him.
The new bronze statue of the 26-year-old raised eyebrows across the world for its curiously ill-proportioned body parts, including an abnormally large head. The figurine depicts the Liverpool forward in his trademark goalscoring celebration, with hands spread out and looking upwards, but with skinny legs and comparatively small bust — it seemed more like a caricature than a tribute.
The unveiling ceremony of the statue at the World Youth Forum (WYF) in Sharm el-Sheikh, in Egypt’s northeastern Sinai Peninsula was attended by thousands, including Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, BBC News reported. Soon after photos of the bizarre looking tribute garnered a lot of attention online but not for the right reasons.
Personally I think the new @MoSalah statue looks more like @ericandre 😂 pic.twitter.com/8zj39LeVKx
— Drew (@Drew_Was_Taken) November 6, 2018
The statue has now become a butt of all jokes. While most users found the statue resembling someone else and couldn’t stop drawing parallels, others quickly started a photoshop battle! Sample these:
Personally I think the new @MoSalah statue looks more like @ericandre 😂 pic.twitter.com/8zj39LeVKx
— Drew (@Drew_Was_Taken) November 6, 2018
When you can’t unsee the Mo Salah statue… 😂#LFC #PL pic.twitter.com/wX0nAGWYYh
— Goal (@goal) November 5, 2018
🇪🇬🙏 Can’t see anything wrong with this Salah statue, fits in perfectly… pic.twitter.com/DVZrF5TXNn
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) November 4, 2018
Mohamed Salah’s new statue #salah #statue pic.twitter.com/5cK6hLIGQt
— Football Facts (@footballfactuk) November 4, 2018
Have Liverpool forgiven Margaret Thatcher? Strange they would erect a statue of her! #LFC #YNWA #MUFC #MoSalah pic.twitter.com/LzDCjI801i
— Billy Meredith (@LindquistLord) November 5, 2018
Why does the Mo Salah statue look like Todd Flanders?!😂😂 pic.twitter.com/rGgGnrSzk1
— ❤️OllyMurs_LFC_YNWA❤️ (@MursAndSalah) November 5, 2018
Nah. Anyone who thinks that Salah statue isn’t Leo Sayer is wrong. pic.twitter.com/EZUPMwOORf
— Tom (@TomParkes_) November 5, 2018
😐 The new Mo Salah picture statue looks familiar @jk_rowling… pic.twitter.com/j3VP5AfXvW
— Big F⚽️⚽️tball (@BigFootballGB) November 5, 2018
#MoSalah statue and Paul Simon in the Netherlands, 1982 pic.twitter.com/OQRUWGacRK
— kiefer hoverhand (@fivedollardare) November 5, 2018
the new mo salah statue #mosalah pic.twitter.com/CPsiVM5WLh
— Z🌊 (@zadddylonglegs) November 4, 2018
That new statue of Mo Salah looks familiar pic.twitter.com/W84D1nMZIk
— Jamés (@utdsupreme) November 4, 2018
Does anyone else think this @MoSalah statue is more like a young Arsene pic.twitter.com/wgothlP2a4
— jame #WelcomeToTheEmeryates 🎗 (@Weener14) November 4, 2018
Is it Mo Salah or is it Art Garfunkel? @LFC @SkySportsNews 🤣👍🏻 #embarrassedLFCfan pic.twitter.com/74e69qgtx0
— Mikey C (@MikeyC1102) November 5, 2018
What is it with footballers and statues?
Ronaldo’s head looked more like Niall Quinn. And now the Mo Salah statue to be installed in Sharm El Sheikh looks more like Marv from Home Alone than Salah.#Salah #LFC pic.twitter.com/Y5Wxv6m3Vi
— OverTheBar (@OverTheBarFB) November 5, 2018
We knew that Mo Salah statue reminded us of someone… 👀🤣 pic.twitter.com/qyqRG4YFcP
— The Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast (@SportsBreakfast) November 5, 2018
Portugal: Nobody can F up a statue of a national icon like us.
Egypt: Hold my beer.#mosalah #Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/uHYAf8vzZL— True Football Fan 🇾🇪 (@TFFUnited) November 5, 2018
According to Al-Jazeera, the statue was made by artist Mai Abdullah and she was inspired by Salah as he was a “symbol of excellence in life for Egypt’s youth”. Reacting to all the criticism online, in a Facebook post she said the brass statue came out looking differently to the original mould.”I hope people learn the art of criticism politely and respect,” she urged.
Mohammed Salah was also chosen as player of the year by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) after an outstanding season in which he has scored 43 goals in all competitions.
