News Focus
- Belgium and Egypt begin their World Cup journey in Group G on Monday evening
- Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah could face each other for the final time
- Both stars overcame difficult spells at Chelsea to become Premier League icons
- Salah holds a superior head-to-head record with ten wins from nineteen meetings
- The match carries extra significance as both players turn thirty-four during the tournament
Two giants of English football will share the same pitch on Monday night when Belgium face Egypt in their opening World Cup match. Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah have defined the Premier League era for nearly a decade. Now they meet on the world stage in what could be their final showdown.
The Group G fixture kicks off in North America on Monday evening. Both players will be thirty-four years old when the ball starts rolling. While neither has retired from international football, this World Cup likely represents their last opportunity to shine at the highest level.
Their career paths share remarkable similarities. Both men arrived at Chelsea during January transfer windows, yet neither found success at Stamford Bridge. De Bruyne made only nine appearances for the London club, while Salah featured in nineteen matches. Managers sent them on loan to Werder Bremen and Fiorentina before permanent moves to Wolfsburg and Roma transformed their fortunes.
Their second seasons in Germany and Italy proved career-changing. De Bruyne contributed to forty-four goals in fifty-six matches. Salah managed thirty-three goal involvements in forty-one games. These performances attracted Manchester City and Liverpool. The rest became history.
Between them, they have collected numerous trophies. Salah lifted the Champions League with Liverpool and claimed four Premier League Golden Boots. De Bruyne won multiple titles with City and matched Salah’s individual haul with assist records. The Egyptian set the record for most goals in a thirty-eight-game season with thirty-two strikes. The Belgian equalled Thierry Henry’s assist record of twenty in a single campaign.
Despite City’s domestic dominance during this period, Salah holds the advantage in their personal battles. The Liverpool legend has defeated De Bruyne’s teams ten times from nineteen encounters. The Belgian has managed only five victories. Their sole international meeting ended in Egyptian success four years ago during a World Cup warm-up match.
This rivalry lacks hatred. Both players speak highly of each other. When De Bruyne left Manchester City in 2025, Salah praised his contribution to English football. The Belgian midfielder has previously described Salah as “unbelievable” for his goal-scoring achievements.
Belgium enter this tournament with doubts. De Bruyne admitted in 2022 that the squad was “too old” to win the competition. While younger players like Jeremy Doku have emerged, the team lacks the quality of their 2018 “golden generation.”
Egypt face different pressure. The seven-time Africa Cup of Nations winners have never progressed beyond the group stages with Salah in their ranks. Their best World Cup finish remains the Round of Sixteen from 1934. Matching this achievement would mark significant progress for the North African side.
Neither player remains at their peak. De Bruyne has battled injuries recently, while Salah posted his worst goal return for a decade last season. However, both can still produce moments of magic. Salah recently broke the record for most goal involvements at a single Premier League club.
Monday’s match offers more than three points. It provides a final chapter in one of football’s most respectful rivalries. Kenyan fans who have followed their Premier League battles for years will witness these legends write their final World Cup stories.