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Mohamed Salah 'confident' he'll be fit for World Cup after Champions League final injury

Mohamed Salah left the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid with a shoulder injury. (Getty)
Mohamed Salah left the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid with a shoulder injury. (Getty)

Mohamed Salah’s presence at the 2018 World Cup is in doubt after Liverpool’s Egyptian winger left the Champions League final after 30 minutes with a shoulder injury.

Salah was pulled down by Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos and fell awkwardly on his left shoulder:

But Salah is “confident” that he will be able to make his World Cup debut.

“I’m a fighter,” he wrote on social media Sunday. “Despite the odds, I’m confident that I’ll be in Russia to make you all proud. Your love and support will give me the strength I need.”

After the match, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp adressed the injury. “Very,” Klopp said when asked how serious it was. And when asked whether Salah’s World Cup was in jeopardy: “Yes, it is. Anything is possible, [but] it does not look good.”

Egypt’s team doctor, however, after communicating with Liverpool’s medical staff, and after X-Rays were taken, expressed optimism that Salah would be fit for Russia. And Egypt’s minister of youth and sport reportedly confirmed Salah would recover in time for the World Cup:

The Pharaohs kick off their World Cup campaign on June 15 against Uruguay.

[Egypt World Cup team preview: Salah leads Pharaohs into Russia]

The Egyptian Football Association also said the injury was to the shoulder joint. Salah was pictured after the game wearing a sling.

He had initially tried to stay in Saturday’s game after being dragged down by Ramos, but was down on the field again a minute or two after re-entering. He knew he could not continue. There was agony all over his face. He was in tears as he walked off the field:

Salah was replaced by Adam Lallana after 30 minutes, and the Reds went on to lose 3-1.

Later in the first half, Real Madrid right back Dani Carvajal also left the game with a leg injury. Carvajal is expected to start for Spain at the World Cup, so his injury is also a concern beyond Saturday.

Spain kicks off its World Cup on that same day, June 15, against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.

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Henry Bushnell covers global soccer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Question? Comment? Email him at henrydbushnell@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter @HenryBushnell, and on Facebook.

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