Will Mohamed Salah be playing at 39? Cristiano Ronaldo ‘best example’ for Liverpool superstar as Reds legend backs Egyptian to emulate Portuguese GOAT

Portuguese GOAT Ronaldo is still going strong at the age of 39 with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. He has been showing no sign of slowing down with club or country and remains determined to reach 1,000 career goals before any thought is given to retirement.

Egyptian superstar Salah boasts a similar mindset to CR7, while both keep themselves in the best possible shape, and a Liverpool legend sees no reason why a modern day great at Anfield cannot remain at the top for the best part of another decade.

Former Reds midfielder Ray Houghton has told talkSPORT of Salah, who is 32 years of age: “I think the best example is Cristiano Ronaldo. You look at what Ronaldo has done to himself, and how he's kept himself in prime condition. It's about attitude of mind, it's about living the right way, it's about applying yourself. And I think Mo's in that category. I think he wants to play for as long as he can, because he loves football, he loves scoring goals, he loves assisting."

Salah is into double figures on the goal front for Liverpool this season, while also registering 10 assists, and Houghton added on his end product: "Not only is he scoring, he's making goals as well, which is something he might not have done in the past, but he's become an all-round player this season, for me. I think he's changed his game, and I think it's been rewarding for Liverpool, Liverpool are seeing the best of him at the moment, both scoring and assisting goals.”

Salah is up to 221 goals in total for Liverpool, through 366 appearances. He has broken a number of records while on the books at Anfield - while claiming Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup honours – but has entered the final 12 months of his contract and will become a free agent in the summer of 2025 if no extension to those terms is agreed.