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Salah's Puskás Award: The Goal That Wasn't His Best

ESPN Soccer •
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Mohamed Salah's impending departure from Liverpool has sparked renewed debate about his most famous goal - the one that won him the 2018 Puskás Award. The Egyptian forward announced he'll leave Anfield on a free transfer at season's end, ending a seven-year spell that saw him score 255 goals in 435 appearances and establish himself as one of the club's greatest ever players.

Salah's Puskás Award-winning strike against Everton in December 2017 - a curling finish from the edge of the box - raised eyebrows even among his teammates. James Milner's social media quip about it being Salah's '7th best goal' highlighted the controversy. The goal beat out contenders from Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, yet many argued it wasn't even Salah's finest effort that season.

In fact, Salah's 2017-18 campaign featured at least six strikes arguably more deserving of the award. These included a 35-yard lob against Manchester City, a vicious volley versus Stoke City, and a brilliant solo effort against Tottenham. His four-goal masterclass against Watford and the exquisite curler past Alisson Becker in the Champions League semifinal further demonstrated his extraordinary range. As Salah prepares to depart Liverpool, his Puskás Award serves as a reminder that even his 'lesser' goals were spectacular - and that his true legacy lies in the countless world-class moments he delivered for the Reds.