Mohamed Salah is capable of emulating Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo by delivering for Liverpool over a number of years, says Andy Robertson.
The Egypt international enjoyed a remarkable debut campaign at Anfield in 2017-18, with a 44-goal haul seeing him showered with praise and prestigious awards.
He was denied the opportunity to end the domestic season on a high after being forced off through injury in the Champions League final but is set to be ready for World Cup duty in Russia.
Salah will feel that he is deserving of a global stage on which to perform, with his club colleagues in England of the opinion that the 25-year-old can cement a standing alongside iconic figures at Barcelona and Real Madrid by matching their stunning levels of consistency.
Robertson told talkSPORT of a talismanic team-mate already being talked about as a possible Ballon d’Or contender: “The amount of goals he scores is incredible, but the amount of chances he has…
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“I think I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago about his goals and stuff, and he said to me: ‘It should have been a lot more.’
“He’s had some unbelievable chances so credit to him for getting in the positions, and that’s why he’s confident of scoring all the time, because he’s getting in the positions.
“It’s the way the gaffer wants him to play, so hopefully he can continue and really build on it and become among Messi and Ronaldo.
“They’ve done it for six or seven seasons and he’s just done it one. But I’ve got no doubt Salah can build on it and do it over that period of time.”
Salah has been included in Egypt’s squad for this summer’s World Cup, despite still nursing the shoulder injury which crushed his European dreams in Kiev.
It remains to be seen how many fixtures he will be ready for, having initially been ruled out for three weeks, with Robertson among those eager to see him get as much football as possible.
Goal
The Scotland international full-back added: “You want the world-class players playing at the World Cup, and you want them to do themselves justice.
“Hopefully he can get back fit and really do it because the whole country of Egypt is relying on him.
“Hopefully he can do himself justice.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s fit. Obviously, he rushed off to get a scan and he was devastated after the final, and I think a part of him was probably worried about the World Cup.
“So I hope he can make it, and I think one of the club physios is with him doing all his rehab.
“He might not be able to make the first games, but hopefully he can play a big part.”
