Mohamed Salah made history by becoming the first African to score 50 Champions League goals in Liverpool’s 4-0 victory over Galatasaray.
The Egyptian winger got himself on the score sheet in stunning fashion, as the Reds recorded an emphatic comeback win over the Turkish giants in their round of 16 second leg at Anfield.
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Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Arne Slot’s side levelled the tie up early on thanks to a Dominik Szoboszlai stunner.
Salah then had the opportunity to put his team in front for the first time, as Liverpool were awarded a penalty just before half-time, only to see his spot-kick saved.
Fortunately for him, the hosts soon took control of things early in the second half, with two goals in three minutes courtesy of Hugo Ekitike and Ryan Gravenberch.
And Salah then made amends for his earlier miss in heroic fashion, as he curled in a stunning effort into the top corner in the 62nd minute.
This saw the Reds talisman notch his 50th Champions League goal, having fired in 47 for his current club, as well three combined for former clubs Roma and Basel.
History maker
Salah’s strike wrapped up a huge victory for Liverpool, and set up a mouth-watering quarter-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain, who beat them in the last-16 stage in the 2024/25 campaign.
His half-century strike also saw him make history, as he became the first African player to score 50 goals in Europe’s premier competition.
Already the leading African goalscorer in the competition, he has now moved six goals clear of Didier Drogba in second place.
The Chelsea and Ivory Coast great scored 44 goals in 92 games in Europe, ahead of Samuel Eto’o, who fired in 30 goals across spells at Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea.
Salah also moved even further ahead of former strike partner Sadio Mane, with the Senegalese bagging 27 times in the Champions League, 24 of which came for Liverpool.
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Top African goalscorers in the Champions League
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Roma, Basel) – 50 goals
- Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Marseille) – 44 goals
- Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea) – 30 goals
- Sadio Mane (Liverpool, Bayern Munich) – 27 goals
- Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City, Leicester) – 20 goals
Adding to his personal history, Salah also became only the 12th player in Champions League history to hit the 50-goal mark.
Harry Kane had become the 11th less than an hour earlier, as he bagged a double in Bayern Munich’s 4-1 thrashing of Atalanta.
Injury worry
Unfortunately for Salah, his landmark evening wasn’t all plain-sailing, as he was then forced off with a possible groin injury before full-time.
He was substituted for Cody Gakpo on 73 minutes, and headed straight down the tunnel for treatment.
While the extent of Salah’s injury is not yet clear, Liverpool will be hoping he will be fit for their next match – a Premier League clash with Brighton in Saturday’s early kick-off.
While the Reds are into the Champions League quarter-finals, they find themselves in a fight to qualify for the competition next year as they currently sitting fifth in the table – believed to be the cut-off point for qualification.
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And Liverpool will already have one eye on their next outing in Europe, after setting up a rematch with holders PSG.
In last season’s edition, Slot’s men suffered a heart-breaking exit to the French faints in the round of 16, ultimately losing on penalties after the tie finished 1-1 on aggregate.