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Manchester City legend Yaya Toure has come to the defense of Mohamed Salah amid some detractors who refuse to give the Egyptian his flowers.

Salah stands as one of the most prolific forwards in Premier League history, a player whose statistical dominance is matched only by his relentless consistency.

Yet, despite 317 club goals, 109 assists for Liverpool, and a record-breaking 37 Premier League games with both a goal and an assist, debates about his technical limitations persist.

A growing contingent of pundits and fans argue that Salah’s perceived lack of “aesthetic” flair—specifically his unconventional dribbling style and occasional ball losses—overshadows his objective brilliance.

Salah’s statistical resume borders on the absurd.

He is the highest-scoring African player in Premier League history (181 goals), Liverpool’s all-time top scorer in the competition, and the sixth-highest scorer in the league’s history, trailing only Alan Shearer, Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney, Andy Cole, and Sergio Agüero.

His 2024/25 campaign alone has yielded 25 goals and 16 assists in 28 league appearances.

And now on the precipice of securing his Anfield legacy with an all-time Premier League individual season couple with the English topflight title, Yaya Toure has come to the defence of the 32-year-old.

Speaking to beIN SPORTS, Yaya Toure was quizzed on whether he feels Mohamed Salah is the best player in the world:

“For me yes.

Without showing disrespect to other candidates, Salah deserves that,” the former Ivory Coast international said before revealing his disdain at the lack of respect afforded to the Liverpool man.

“When people talk about consistency, I have seen players be overrated after their first season saying they are a top player, they deserve that etc.”

“But this guy for so many years has been so consistent for Liverpool and still people find a way to talk about him differently,” Toure explained.

“Sometimes I am amazed by those people who talk about football, I don’t understand honestly.”

“If you ask the pure football people, I describe myself as a football person, I know what this guy is doing for the game?

He deserves the respect.”

In an era obsessed with “pretty” football, his utilitarian brilliance challenges entrenched aesthetic hierarchies.

Greatness isn’t about style; it’s about changing games and Salah does that every week.

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