Egypt captain Mohamed Salah has joined two Ghanaian football legends in an elite group after rising to third place in the list of most chances created by an African player at a single FIFA World Cup tournament.
Salah registered his 16th created chance of the 2026 World Cup during Egypt’s Round of 32 win over Australia, a tally that places him behind only two former Black Stars midfielders in the all-time standings for the continent.
The Liverpool forward’s latest contribution highlights his continuing influence on Egypt’s campaign in North America, where the Pharaohs have progressed to the Round of 16 after a strong showing in the competition so far.
Only two African players have produced more chances in a single World Cup tournament. At the top of the list is former Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, who created 18 chances during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. That tournament saw Ghana reach the quarter-finals, marking one of the country’s most successful World Cup runs.
In second place is another Ghana international, Stephen Appiah, who registered 17 chances created during the 2006 World Cup in Germany. That tournament was especially significant for Ghana, as it marked the nation’s first appearance on football’s biggest stage.
Salah’s inclusion in the rankings places him among two of the most influential players in Ghana’s World Cup history, both of whom played key roles in establishing the Black Stars on the global stage.
The Egypt captain has been central to his team’s attacking play throughout the 2026 tournament, combining his creative output with his well-known goal threat. His performances have helped Egypt maintain momentum as they continue their push for a historic first-ever World Cup quarter-final appearance.
Salah’s achievement further underlines his importance to the Pharaohs’ system, with his ability to both create and finish chances making him one of the standout players of the competition so far.
As Egypt prepare for the next stage of the tournament, attention will remain on whether Salah can continue his form and potentially challenge the records set by the two Ghanaian greats above him.
The updated ranking for most chances created by an African player in a single FIFA World Cup now reads as follows:
Kevin-Prince Boateng (Ghana, 2010) – 18
Stephen Appiah (Ghana, 2006) – 17
Mohamed Salah (Egypt, 2026) – 16
With Egypt still in contention, Salah has the opportunity to further close the gap on the historic benchmarks set by Ghana’s World Cup icons, whose records have stood for nearly two decades.
