Between Mahrez and Salah… the “Arab Pride” conflict flares up again at the American World Cup.

Comparisons between Egyptian star Mohamed Salah and Algerian national team captain Riyad Mahrez have never stopped. Since their brilliance in the English Premier League for Liverpool and Manchester City, the pair have become the subject of constant debate among Arab fans as to who deserves the title of “Pride of the Arabs”.

After years of rivalry in English stadiums, the conflict returned to a new chapter, but this time on the world’s biggest football stage, after the two stars managed to lead their teams to the second round of the 2026 World Cup, once again confirming that they are still among the most famous Arab players in world football.

Crunch the numbers… and the impact is there

Mohamed Salah stood out for Egypt during the group stage after scoring three goals with one and two assists. He was the most prominent element in the Pharaohs’ attacking system, helping his country qualify for the round of 32, where they face a tough match against the Australian national team.

Riyad Mahrez was no less influential, also contributing three goals for Algeria with two goals and one assist to guide the Desert Warriors through to the group stage for the second time in their history, with a date to face Switzerland in the next round.

In terms of numbers, the battle looks evenly matched so far, with each player contributing three goals and having a clear impact on their country’s qualification, so the decision remains reserved for the knock-out stages.

The competitive years are not over

The dispute over the title “Pride of the Arabs” is not born today, but more than a decade ago, especially after Salah shone with Liverpool and Mahrez with Manchester City in the English Premier League.

During that time, the duo won many individual and team titles, each of which managed to write an exceptional story. Salah became Liverpool’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League and led the Reds to the Champions League and Premier League, while Mahrez was one of the most famous elements of Manchester City’s golden generation and helped win several domestic and continental titles, including leading Algeria to the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019.

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Despite the differences in each of their playing styles, the comparisons have not stopped, with one group believing that Salah is superior in numbers and consistency, while others argue that Mahrez has a greater impact in the big games, making the title “Pride of the Arabs” a constant source of controversy for Arab football fans.

America’s World Cup gives the final chapter to the conflict

With Egypt and Algeria having qualified for the round of 32, all eyes are on what the two stars have to offer in the upcoming rounds.

Salah leads the Pharaohs against Australia in a bid to continue the Egyptian dream, while Mahrez faces a tough test against Switzerland in which he hopes to write a new record with the Desert Warriors.

Flash in the knockout rounds could be the factor that favors one of them in the eyes of the fans, especially since the knockout matches are always where legends are made.

Both in their mid-thirties, talk of a place in the last World Cup has skyrocketed, so each of them wants to write a unique and unforgettable story.