Mohamed Salah surrounded by Gabon players asking for his shirt in Egypt game

Even players are in awe of  Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah's popularity around the world is at an all-time high right now. Everywhere he goes, the Liverpool star is swarmed by thousands of fans desperate to get a glimpse of the man who has been dubbed by many as the 'best player in the world' at present. Just recently, a World Cup qualifier between Angola and Egypt had to be stopped three times as fans invaded the pitch to get either a photograph - or just witness Salah up close and personal. But now it seems that even the opposition players are in awe of the global icon, with Salah surrounded by Gabon players asking for his shirt at the full-time whistle of Egypt's game against Gabon on Tuesday. The Pharaohs ran out 2-1 winners at the Borg El Arab Stadium in a World Cup qualifier, with the 29-year-old starting on the bench and coming on for the final 30 minutes. As expected, the Egyptian was greeted to raptures of applause the moment he stepped onto the pitch and every other time he touched the ball during the game. Come the full-time whistle and the defeat seemed to have been forgotten instantly by several players of the Gabon side as they swarmed themselves around Salah asking for his shirt. https://twitter.com/SalahCentral/status/1460915746519801857 To be fair to him, Salah seemed apologetic to those who asked as he shook his head and indicated that he promised somebody else that he would give them his shirt. Before then, the Liverpool winger was greeted with two bodyguards who walked side-by-side with him down the tunnel to protect him from the swarm of supporters and players. Salah will return to club duties this weekend as Liverpool host an in-form Arsenal side at Anfield on Saturday as they look to close the gap on league leaders Chelsea. Related links:

• Egypt game stopped three times as fans try to get photo with Mohamed Salah
• ‘Extremely selfish’ Mo Salah is world’s best player, Souness claims
• Arsene Wenger claims Mohamed Salah is the best striker in the world