Mohamed Salah is known around the world for his goals, records, and big-game moments, but away from packed stadiums, he has a much quieter way to switch off. When the season ends and the boots come off, Salah often heads to the water with a fishing rod in hand.
Over the years, he’s shared glimpses of his catches on social media, looking completely at ease out at sea or on a boat, enjoying the calm after the chaos of elite football. One of his biggest catches came in 2019 when he posted pictures on Instagram holding a large Red Sea dolphinfish.
Most recently, Salah’s fishing passion became a meme following his omission from the Liverpool lineup in December and criticism from Anfield legend Jamie Carragher. In a fake image posted online and shared countless times, Salah was pictured with a 35lb mirror carp supposedly caught at the fictional Carragher Fisheries in St Helens. While tongue-in-cheek, the meme is reflective of one of Salah’s known passions away from the football field.
He’s not alone at Liverpool either. Goalkeeper Alisson is a fishing fan, while former Reds Roberto Firmino, Darwin Núñez, Luis Díaz and Kostas Tsimikas have all been spotted enjoying days by the lake together. Fishing has almost become a quiet club tradition. Now there’s another keen angler joining the mix, with new signing Milos Kerkez also passionate about heading off-grid to fish and relax.
Calm Away from the Spotlight
Fishing’s appeal clearly stretches deep into football culture, with stars past and present using it as a way to escape the game’s relentless pressure. For example, Newcastle and Brazil captain Bruno Guimarães fishes several times a week, drawing on a family tradition that goes back to his grandfather, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s love of fishing began in Madeira, where he once believed life on the water might be his future.
Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz even turned his passion into a goal celebration, while former Premier League players David Beckham, Sergio Agüero, Memphis Depay, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and John Terry have all spoken about or shared their own time spent by lakes, rivers, and seas.
That same pull explains why fishing has surged beyond sport and into wider culture. In the UK alone, angling is now a multibillion-pound industry, influencing fashion through the rise of “anglercore” and fuelling online entertainment via YouTube creators and viral clips.
The iGaming industry has also taken notice in abundance, with many fishing-themed titles on the market like the Big Bass online slots UK series topping the charts. Such is the appeal of angling, the Big Bass portfolio continues to grow with It’s a Whopper most recently joining established titles like Amazon Xtreme and Splash.
Elsewhere, TV hits like Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing have found huge audiences by celebrating the sport’s slower pace and reflective charm, while shows such as River Monsters turned fishing into high-stakes adventure.
A Cherished Escape
Whether it’s reeling in a large Red Sea dolphinfish or enjoying a quiet day on a lake with teammates, fishing for Salah, and many other footballers, offers a rare chance to step away from football’s glare. Seeking the same appealing qualities that drew fellow Liverpool teammates of the past and the present to the water, Salah’s hobby highlights how fishing remains a cherished escape for sporting professionals.
