Egyptian treasures: Mo Salah's boots get a spot in British Museum
Egyptian treasures: Mo Salah's boots get a spot in British Museum
Football boots of Mo Salah - 'the Egyptian king' - have gone on display among the British Museum's pharaonic collections as Salah-mania grips the UK and beyond.
2 min read
17 May, 2018
"The boots tell a story of a modern Egyptian icon" [The British Museum]
After ammassing armfuls of accolades for his record-smashing season at Liverpool, football wunderkind Mo Salah - nicknamed the Egyptian king by his adoring fans - has reached true legend status after it was announced his boots will go on display in the British Museum alongside its world famous collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts.
The shoes in question were the very pair Salah wore when he scored the goals that won him the Golden Boot award for being the top goalscorer in the Premier League this season, and have been donated to the museum by Adidas.
The shoes in question were the very pair Salah wore when he scored the goals that won him the Golden Boot award for being the top goalscorer in the Premier League this season, and have been donated to the museum by Adidas.
Neal Spencer, Keeper of Ancient Egypt and Sudan at the museum said, "This acquisition brings the British Museum's world-famous Egyptian collection right up to date. The boots tell a story of a modern Egyptian icon, performing in the UK, with a truly global impact."
"Displayed amidst the statues of ancient pharaohs, we now show the boots with which Mo Salah won the Golden Boot for Liverpool. Salah will shortly lead his national team, known as The Pharaohs, to the World Cup Finals," he added.
Salah - whose last-minute goal secured Egypt's place in the World Cup this summer - is hoped to bring the same brilliance to the Champion's League final on Saturday.
"Salah has taken world football by storm this season and reached national treasure status in his home country of Egypt by securing their qualification to this year’s FIFA World Cup 2018. To recognise these record-breaking feats adidas has worked with the British Museum to place his adidas X17 boots amongst the greatest artefacts and treasures from Egyptian history at the British Museum," The British Museum said of the prize-winning shoes.
"This acquisition builds on our recent project to acquire objects to tell the story of day-to-day life in 20th and 21st century Egypt. From sport, to entertainment, worldwide trade to design, this collection is now accessible to all - like those from other periods of Egypt’s rich history," said Spencer.
The boots will go on display next week in Gallery 61, alongside footwear from ancient Egypt and adjacent to a selection of gold pharaonic jewellery, according to the museum.
Fellow mesmerised admirers from around the world have been keen to claim Salah as their own, bestowing momentous accolades on the young player.
Officials of Mecca's municipality announced they were awarding Salah with land in the holy Muslim city, in return for being "a wonderful representative of Islam".
"Displayed amidst the statues of ancient pharaohs, we now show the boots with which Mo Salah won the Golden Boot for Liverpool. Salah will shortly lead his national team, known as The Pharaohs, to the World Cup Finals," he added.
Salah - whose last-minute goal secured Egypt's place in the World Cup this summer - is hoped to bring the same brilliance to the Champion's League final on Saturday.
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| The boots will take their place "amongst the greatest artefacts and treasures from Egyptian history at the British Museum" [Getty] |
"Salah has taken world football by storm this season and reached national treasure status in his home country of Egypt by securing their qualification to this year’s FIFA World Cup 2018. To recognise these record-breaking feats adidas has worked with the British Museum to place his adidas X17 boots amongst the greatest artefacts and treasures from Egyptian history at the British Museum," The British Museum said of the prize-winning shoes.
"This acquisition builds on our recent project to acquire objects to tell the story of day-to-day life in 20th and 21st century Egypt. From sport, to entertainment, worldwide trade to design, this collection is now accessible to all - like those from other periods of Egypt’s rich history," said Spencer.
The boots will go on display next week in Gallery 61, alongside footwear from ancient Egypt and adjacent to a selection of gold pharaonic jewellery, according to the museum.
Fellow mesmerised admirers from around the world have been keen to claim Salah as their own, bestowing momentous accolades on the young player.
Officials of Mecca's municipality announced they were awarding Salah with land in the holy Muslim city, in return for being "a wonderful representative of Islam".
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