In a moment laced with irony and pure football drama, Jamie Carragher’s priceless reaction to Mohamed Salah’s dramatic 91st-minute winner for Egypt against Zimbabwe has gone viral, capturing the awkward essence of their recent high-profile fallout. Just days after the Liverpool legend’s fiery criticism of Salah – questioning his international trophy haul and branding his outburst a “disgrace” – the Egyptian King delivered yet another clutch performance on the biggest stage.

The scene unfolded during Egypt’s tense AFCON 2025 opener in Agadir on December 22. Seven-time champions Egypt, heavy favorites, found themselves trailing 1-0 to plucky Zimbabwe after Prince Dube’s early strike. Despite dominating possession and racking up 35 shots, the Pharaohs looked headed for a shocking draw until Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush equalized in the 64th minute. Then, in the first minute of stoppage time, Salah pounced: controlling a flicked header with his hip, shrugging off defender Teenage Hadebe, and slotting a composed left-footed finish into the bottom corner for a 2-1 victory.

Social media exploded with memes imagining Carragher’s response at home. Viral posts depicted the Sky Sports pundit in stunned silence or reluctant admiration, his face a mix of exasperation and begrudging respect – perfectly timed given his recent comments that Salah “hasn’t really won much for Egypt.” Fans dubbed it “peak awkward,” with one popular meme showing Carragher frozen on the couch as Salah celebrated wildly.

This goal wasn’t just a match-winner; it carried extra weight amid Salah’s turbulent Liverpool saga. After being benched multiple times under Arne Slot and sparking controversy with public frustrations, Salah headed to AFCON seeking redemption. His heroics silenced doubters temporarily, proving his big-game mentality remains intact at 33. Egypt coach Rui Vitória praised his captain’s perseverance, noting Salah’s tireless work rate despite a frustrating night until the breakthrough.

For Carragher, a die-hard Liverpool fan who has passionately defended the club while critiquing Salah’s off-pitch behavior, the moment highlighted football’s unpredictable beauty. Though no official comment from Carragher surfaced immediately, the circulating memes captured what many imagined: a legendary pundit torn between club loyalty, personal critique, and admiration for one of the game’s greats.

Salah’s strike sets Egypt up nicely for their Group B clash with South Africa, while keeping alive his quest for a first AFCON title – something Carragher himself highlighted as a gap in the forward’s resume. In a tournament full of storylines, this late drama added a layer of personal vindication, reminding everyone why Salah remains irreplaceable. As the Pharaohs march on, fans can’t help but wonder: will this spark reconciliation, or fuel more punditry fireworks?