Mohamed Salah has finally lifted the burden of World Cup disappointment for himself and Egypt.

The forward delivered a decisive second-half showing against New Zealand that propelled the Pharaohs to their first-ever tournament victory at the ninth attempt and left them close to reaching the last 32.

Salah struck in the 67th minute to restore the lead after an early setback against the Kiwis, then set up Trezeguet with a corner for the third goal in a memorable 3-1 success.

After a subdued start that included a low-key display in the opening draw with Belgium and a quiet first half here, the 34-year-old stepped forward at a crucial moment.

He joined other leading names such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane in making a major impact at the finals.

Following a disappointing 2018 campaign and missing out on qualification for Qatar, Egypt's standout player has now enjoyed his breakthrough moment on this stage.

He knows a draw with Iran could be enough to advance, and his side might progress even without that result.

Salah said: "It is a great achievement for all the players. It is a great win. It is a great vibe. The next game is very important."

His club situation after a difficult final season at Liverpool, where he parted ways with manager Arne Slot and confirmed his departure this summer, remains unclear.

Links to clubs worldwide have circulated, yet he chose to concentrate on Egypt's campaign to address past shortcomings.

In 2018 he returned from injury to feature but saw limited action, including a bench role against Uruguay, a late penalty in defeat to Russia and a missed chance in the loss to Saudi Arabia.

The aftermath brought tension with the Egyptian FA and speculation about his international future.

Failure to reach Qatar followed, and after 45 minutes on Sunday it appeared his struggles might persist.

Manager Hossam Hassan addressed reports of any rift with Salah before the match following the earlier substitution.

Yet when the Iran fixture threatened to become another missed opportunity, Salah took control and sparked celebrations among supporters everywhere.

While a star at Liverpool, Salah holds even greater status in Egypt.

Every touch draws loud support from fans, and expectations weigh heavily on him each time he plays.

Sunday's goal marked his 68th in 118 appearances, one short of Hassan's record, and ranks among his most significant as Egypt ended a 92-year drought for a World Cup win.

No player created more shooting opportunities in a single match at this tournament than Salah did against New Zealand, with five shots and five chances created.

Former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou told ITV: "If there was any doubt about Mo's impact on this team, you can still see it.

"It will give them enormous belief. They had to deal with adversity and their big player stood up and that will give them big confidence. You need your big players to perform to progress."

Former Jamaica winger Jobi McAnuff added: "Just when he was needed, Mo Salah stood up for his country."

Salah has represented the senior side for 14 years, with his value so high that government figures have intervened during injury concerns.

"I even had calls from Egypt's Minister of Health," recalls Dr Mohamed Aboud, the team doctor, referring to the shoulder issue sustained in the 2018 Champions League final against Real Madrid.

Despite two Premier League titles with Liverpool, he has yet to win silverware with Egypt.

The previous generation secured three Africa Cup of Nations triumphs from 2006 to 2010, while recent finals ended in defeat to Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal in 2021.

This World Cup success removes at least one longstanding regret for Egypt.