The football world paused on Monday as news spread of a personal loss for Mohamed Salah, one of the game’s most recognisable figures. The Liverpool forward is mourning the death of his grandfather, Ahmed Abdel Aziz Al Bambi, who died in Salah’s hometown of Nagrig in Egypt.
The confirmation came from within the family. Salah’s sister, Rehab, and his uncle, Abdel Aziz Al Bambi, spoke publicly about the loss. His uncle, who also chairs the Mohamed Salah Youth Centre in Nagrig, described the moment as deeply painful and asked friends and supporters to keep the family in their prayers. Funeral prayers were scheduled at the Grand Mosque of Musa in Nagrig, with burial to follow later the same day.
Salah, 33, is Egypt’s captain and its most prolific goalscorer. At Liverpool, he remains central to the club’s identity, admired not only for his goals but for his discipline and consistency. News of his bereavement prompted an immediate response from across the football community.
Messages of condolence poured in from fellow players, clubs and fans, many choosing simple words of sympathy over football talk. Social media, often a place of argument and rivalry, briefly became a space of shared humanity.
The timing has been cruel. The loss comes during a demanding stretch of the season, just a day after Liverpool’s intense Premier League match against Manchester City. Yet the reaction from supporters suggested an understanding that some moments sit far beyond the pitch.
Many tributes also spoke of Salah’s connection to Nagrig, a village he has never left behind. Through his youth centre and charitable work, he has continued to invest in the community that shaped him, offering opportunity and hope to young people across Egypt.
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