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Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah has become only the third player to score and provide an assist in each of UEFA’s three major men’s club competitions – the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
The 34-year-old achieved the rare milestone on Thursday, October 15, when he scored and assisted in Trabzonspor’s 4-2 victory over Finnish side KuPS in their opening match of the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League campaign. Blueprint reports
According to Opta statistics reported by football media, Salah joins Dutch international Cody Gakpo and German World Cup winner Mario Götze as the only players to have recorded both a goal and an assist across all three competitions.
The achievement adds another distinction to Salah’s European career, which has included years of starring performances in the Champions League and Europa League before his move to Turkish football.
His contribution against KuPS was decisive, as he helped Trabzonspor establish an early advantage and then scored himself before the interval.
Salah delivers goal and assist against KuPS
Salah wasted little time making his presence felt against the Finnish outfit, setting up Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu for Trabzonspor’s opening goal in the third minute.
The Egyptian supplied the pass that allowed Onuachu to finish and give the Turkish side an early lead, putting them in control of the contest.
Salah then doubled Trabzonspor’s advantage in the 44th minute, finishing from inside the penalty area to cap an influential first-half performance.
The goal and assist completed his contribution to the match before he was substituted in the 55th minute.
Trabzonspor went on to secure a 4-2 victory, with Franculino Djú scoring twice after coming on as a substitute. KuPS responded through Petteri Pennanen and Gustav Engvall, but the Finnish side could not overturn the deficit.
The result gave Trabzonspor a winning start to their Conference League campaign, while Salah’s individual performance attracted attention for the historical record it produced.
Gakpo and Götze previously achieved the feat
Before Salah, Gakpo and Götze were the only players reported to have scored and assisted in all three of UEFA’s principal men’s club competitions.
Gakpo, the Netherlands international who plays for Liverpool, has featured in both the Champions League and Europa League during his career and also registered a goal and an assist in the Conference League.
Götze, meanwhile, is best known for scoring Germany’s winning goal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina. The attacking midfielder has also played in all three European competitions during his club career.
The Conference League was introduced in the 2021/22 season, creating a third major pathway into UEFA club competition alongside the Champions League and Europa League.
Players who have spent most of their careers competing at the highest European level do not necessarily get the opportunity to feature in all three tournaments. Salah’s move to Trabzonspor, who are competing in the Conference League, gave him the opportunity to complete the set.
His latest achievement therefore reflects both his longevity in European football and his ability to remain productive across different competitions and stages of his career.
From Liverpool’s European nights to Turkish football
Salah built much of his European reputation during his time at Liverpool, where he became one of the leading attacking players of his generation.
He consistently delivered goals and assists in the Champions League and domestic competitions, helping Liverpool win major honours and establish themselves among Europe’s leading clubs.
His performances in European competition were an important part of his legacy at Anfield, where he regularly featured in high-pressure matches against elite opposition.
The move to Trabzonspor has introduced a different chapter in his career, but his display against KuPS demonstrated that he remains capable of influencing matches and producing notable individual milestones.
Rather than merely scoring, Salah contributed to the construction of Trabzonspor’s early lead before finding the net himself. That combination was central to the statistical achievement recognised after the match.
His performance also underlined his importance to Trabzonspor as they seek to make progress in European competition.
Trabzonspor benefit from strong attacking display
Trabzonspor’s 4-2 victory was not solely about Salah’s individual record. The Turkish club also showed attacking quality in a match that produced six goals.
Onuachu’s early strike gave the visitors a strong start, with Salah’s first-half goal extending their advantage before the break.
Although KuPS attempted to fight back, Trabzonspor found further goals through Franculino Djú, whose second-half brace helped preserve the visitors’ advantage.
The victory provided a positive opening to the Conference League campaign and gave the club three points to begin their European journey.
For Salah, the match was particularly significant because it combined a team victory with a personal landmark. His goal and assist helped Trabzonspor secure the result while placing him alongside Gakpo and Götze in a select group of players.
Another milestone in Salah’s career
Salah’s latest achievement adds to a career defined by consistent goal contributions, individual records and success at the highest level of European football.
The Egyptian has represented several clubs during his career, including Basel, Chelsea, Fiorentina, Roma and Liverpool, before joining Trabzonspor.
His experience across different leagues and European competitions has enabled him to build a varied record, and his latest milestone demonstrates that his influence extends beyond a single tournament.
The record is specifically about scoring and assisting in each of UEFA’s three major club competitions, rather than simply appearing in all three.
With his contribution against KuPS, Salah has joined Gakpo and Götze as the third player to accomplish the feat.
As Trabzonspor continue their European campaign, the Egyptian forward will be expected to provide further attacking quality as the Turkish side pursue progress in the Conference League.
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