Manchester United legend, Wayne Rooney has sparked debate across the footballing world by claiming that Mohamed Salah’s physical prime is officially over.

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England captain suggested that the “Egyptian King” is finally showing signs of natural decline, marking the end of an era for the 33-year-old forward as he prepares to depart Liverpool at the end of the current 2025/26 season.

Rooney, who famously left Old Trafford at age 31 after realizing he could no longer meet his own high standards, drew a direct parallel between his experience and Salah’s current struggles.

“I’ve said this since the start of the season: age gets to us all and your legs go,” Rooney remarked. “I think that’s happened to Salah this season. I watched him at the Africa Cup of Nations, and he’s not moving as well or as quick as he used to. It’s no fault of his own; it’s just the natural cycle.”

The statistics back Rooney’s assessment of a sharp drop-off. After a record-breaking 2024/25 campaign where he tallied 47 goal involvements to lead Liverpool to the Premier League title, Salah has struggled to find the same rhythm this term.

With only 7 goals and 6 assists in 25 league appearances so far, the forward is on track to miss out on double-digit league goals for the first time since joining the club from Roma in 2017. This dip in form has coincided with a challenging title defense for Arne Slot’s side, which has struggled for consistency following the departures of key veterans like Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Rooney didn’t stop at Salah, noting that other stalwarts of the Jurgen Klopp era, including Virgil van Dijk, also appear to be battling the passage of time.

“The hardest thing for a player is to understand that they may not be at the level they were,” Rooney added, reflecting on his own decision to move to Everton in 2017. “I accepted it when Zlatan Ibrahimović came in and I wasn’t playing. I wanted to play, so I left.”

Despite the critique, Rooney was quick to emphasize that a physical decline does not tarnish Salah’s status as one of the greatest to ever grace the Premier League. As Salah enters the final weeks of his storied nine-year tenure at Anfield, the focus remains on his immense legacy including a Champions League trophy and multiple Golden Boots—even as the “legs” that powered those triumphs begin to slow.