There were shocking scenes in Liberia on Sunday as Mohamed Salah appeared to be targeted by a group of pitch invaders.
Liverpool's star forward was in international action for his native Egypt in a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone played at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium in Monrovia, with Egypt leading 2-0 with just two minutes to go thanks to Trezeguet's brace when several men sprinted onto the pitch.
They seemed to head straight for Salah, who thankfully avoided any danger with the help of his team-mates and security personnel in hi-vis jackets who could quickly be seen throwing punches at the trespassers during chaotic scenes that marred the closing stages of the Group A fixture.
One pitch invader was chased away from Salah by Egypt's Mohamed Abdelmonem, with striker Mohamed Sherif also among those helping to keep him safe.
Salah was later escorted off the pitch and down the tunnel by military personnel.
Egypt won the game 2-0 thanks to those goals from former Aston Villa forward Trezeguet, the second assisted by Salah, who is his country's current captain and second leading scorer of all-time with 55 total goals in 94 senior caps since 2011, including four in a 6-0 thrashing of Djibouti in their opening World Cup qualifier in Cairo on Thursday.
Salah is also enjoying another inspired club season with Liverpool, scoring 12 times in 17 appearances across all competitions so far this term.
A brace in the 3-0 win over Brentford at Anfield in title-contending Liverpool's final Premier League fixture before the international break saw the 31-year-old become the first player in Reds history to score in all six opening home games of a league season.
Only Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand and Thierry Henry had previously achieved the feat for other top-flight clubs in the Premier League era.
Liverpool will be hoping that Salah - three behind Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race after 12 games - continues his rich vein of scoring form when Jurgen Klopp's side travel to face defending champions Manchester City in a huge clash at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
