Revealed: How iconic Nigerian fighter influenced Liverpool star Mo Salah’s viral goal celebration

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has shed light on the inspiration behind his recent goal celebration, revealing it was influenced by UFC icon Israel Adesanya, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Egyptian star, known for his iconic goal celebrations, recently adopted a new routine that has caught the attention of fans worldwide.

Salah has confirmed that his celebration after scoring against Brentford was inspired by Adesanya’s victory celebration following his fight against Alex Pereira.

Adesanya, a prominent figure in the UFC, has become famous not just for his fighting skills but also for his theatrical post-fight celebrations.

One of his most memorable gestures was when he mimed shooting three invisible arrows into the air after defeating Pereira, symbolising the three times he had lost to the Brazilian in different combat sports.

This celebration resonated with Salah, who decided to pay tribute to Adesanya by incorporating it into his own repertoire.

In an interview with Men in Blazers, Salah explained, “I think I was watching the UFC [and] it was [Alex] Pereira against Israel [Adesanya]. When he won the second fight against Pereira, he celebrated like that. I like the celebration, and that’s why I did it… I am a UFC fan.”

Salah’s comments about Nigeria’s Adesanya below (4:10):

As Salah continues to enjoy his final year under contract with Liverpool, his future remains uncertain.

Despite ongoing speculation about a potential move to the Saudi Pro League, Salah remains focused on enjoying his time at Anfield.

The forward, who has scored 213 goals since joining Liverpool in 2017, is one of several key players whose contracts expire at the end of the season.

Alongside Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Salah’s future is a topic of keen interest for fans and pundits alike.

For now, Salah is focused on the present, stating, “I don’t want to think about next year or the future, I just want to enjoy the last year and let’s see.”

His dedication to Liverpool remains evident as he continues to deliver crucial goals, helping the Reds secure victories in their opening games of the season.