FIFA has settled the dispute over Mohamed Salah's international goal tally, ruling that the Egypt captain has not yet broken Hossam Hassan's record as his country's all-time leading scorer. The correction, confirmed on November 14, 2026, means Salah stands on 68 goals, one short of Hassan's 69.
The row erupted after Salah scored twice in Egypt's 5-0 win over Malawi on Friday evening at Cairo Stadium, in the third round of Group Two of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Teammates surrounded him at the final whistle as though the record had fallen, and Salah himself posted a picture on social media holding a piece of paper bearing the number 70.
What FIFA's correction actually says
According to Goal.com, FIFA amended a report published on its official website after Salah's goal against New Zealand at the 2026 World Cup. The original report credited the Trabzonspor forward with 68 international goals. FIFA has now admitted an error and reduced that figure to 66.
With the two goals scored against Malawi, Salah's verified total therefore reaches 68, not 70. Hossam Hassan's record of 69 goals, scored between 1985 and 2006, remains intact as the best in Egypt's history.
The confusion was not of one making. Statistical sources had split openly on the question. The French network Stats du Foot credited Salah with 70 goals and a new record, while Transfermarkt put his tally at just 68, as LiveScore reported in its account of the controversy.
The Swaziland friendly at the heart of the count
The disagreement traces back to 2013, early in Salah's international career, when he scored twice in Egypt's 10-0 friendly win over Swaziland. Doubts arose immediately over whether FIFA recognised the match, because then coach Bob Bradley made 10 substitutions during the game, more than the limit permitted in official international matches.
The match never appeared in the list of Egypt's fixtures on FIFA's official website, which strengthened the view that Salah's two goals that day were excluded from his international record. That exclusion is precisely what separates the competing tallies that surfaced after the Malawi match.
A scoring drought ended, a record still standing
Before Friday's brace, Salah had gone four matches without scoring for Egypt. His last goal had come against New Zealand in the second round of the group stage at the 2026 World Cup.
He then drew blanks against Iran, Australia and Argentina at the World Cup, and against Angola in the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. He also missed Egypt's 5-0 win over South Sudan in the second round of qualifying.
Against Malawi, fortune was slow to arrive. Salah fired shot after shot for 84 minutes, only for the visiting defence and goalkeeper to deny him. Six minutes before the end of normal time, he headed home a cross from substitute Ibrahim Adel for Egypt's fourth.
In stoppage time, young striker Hamza Abdelkarim won a penalty after being brought down by the goalkeeper. Salah stepped up and chipped home a Panenka for the fifth, adding the flourish that ignited the celebration and the controversy.
Why the record carries extra weight
The debate over the numbers would have been a statistical squabble in any other week. This one unfolded days after Hossam Hassan was sacked as Egypt coach, despite having guided the national team to the 2026 World Cup.
Reports in the Egyptian media claimed a falling-out between Hassan and Salah contributed to the coach's removal. The dispute reportedly began when Hassan substituted Salah after 60 minutes of the Angola match, a decision that angered the player. Media accounts then emerged of harsh words from the coach in the dressing room at half-time.
Salah left the Egypt camp soon after and did not travel with the team for the match against South Sudan. Hani Abo Rida, president of the Egyptian Football Association, flew to Turkey to calm the situation, but Hassan refused to travel, and the crisis ended with his dismissal.
Breaking the record under such circumstances would have carried obvious symbolism for the captain. FIFA's correction has postponed that moment, as Africasoccer noted in reporting that Salah remains two goals short of the Egyptian mark.
When can Salah break the record?
The wait may be short. Egypt face Malawi again next Tuesday, away from home, in the fourth round of the qualifiers. One goal would draw Salah level with Hassan on 69; two would make him Egypt's sole all-time top scorer, a mark Hassan has held for two decades according to Kawowo Sports.
Frequently asked questions
Did Mohamed Salah break Hossam Hassan's record?
No. FIFA corrected Salah's tally to 68 international goals after the brace against Malawi, leaving him one behind Hassan's record of 69.
Why was there confusion over Salah's goal count?
Some statistical bodies counted two goals Salah scored against Swaziland in a 2013 friendly, a match FIFA does not recognise because Egypt exceeded the permitted number of substitutions.
When does Salah get his next chance?
Egypt play Malawi away next Tuesday in the fourth round of Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. One goal draws him level; two break the record.