An astonishing season of speed, scares, brilliance and heartbreak will finally end for Mohamed Salah this afternoon in Volgograd. What started with a brace on his Liverpool debut away to Watford will fade with a damp squib against Saudi Arabia, drawing a line under a hugely frustrating World Cup for Egypt.

But their exit at the group stage, following a narrow loss to Uruguay and a battering by hosts Russia, may not be the worst part of the summer for the Pharaohs. Whispers are emanating from the team camp in Grozny that the “Egyptian King” is set to announce his international retirement at the age of just 26, reportedly having grown fed up at his constant exploitation for the purpose of propaganda by his and other governments.

Questions were raised before the World Cup over Egypt’s choice of base for the tournament: the autonomous, Muslim-majority region of Chechnya, scene of two separatist conflicts and a repressive government, which has a questionable record on human rights, especially with regards to homosexuality. Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya, has carved out a niche for himself as the regional strongman; having settled the issue of Chechen insurgency, he has played a crucial role in strengthening ties between Muslim countries and Moscow as Russia has taken centre stage in the Middle East, even sending Chechen security forces to Syria.

Mohamed Salah posing with head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov during an Egypt training session at the Akhmat Arena stadium in Grozny (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

Salah, meanwhile, is perhaps the most well-known, and certainly the most popular, Muslim figure in the world. Adored at home and abroad not only for his prowess with a ball at his feet, but for his humble and friendly demeanour, he has become an icon for mainstream, moderate Islam in a Europe still reeling from a series of Islamist attacks across the continent in 2017.

But this popularity has drawn unsavoury elements to his doorstep, which is why, at so young an age and the start of his journey to the sporting stratosphere, he is on the verge of abandoning his country.

Salah has undoubtedly been used as a propaganda tool by Kadyrov during his stay in Grozny , with the Chechen leader waking him up at the team hotel to give him a tour of the city, and awarding him “honorary citizenship” at a dinner over the weekend. It makes sense: what leader wouldn’t want to take advantage of the popularity of a sporting icon? Politicians and dictators have done it for as long as there has been sport, from Mussolini to Tony Blair. But that doesn’t mean Salah is comfortable with it. The fact that the Egyptian FA chose Grozny as their base, and has been complicit in promoting the images of Kadyrov and Salah, suggests this is part of their own strategy as much as Kadyrov’s.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah compared

But this is not the only occasion Salah has been effectively strong-armed by the Egyptian FA for his image. Earlier this year, Salah took to Twitter to complain at how his image was being used by the FA to advertise with telecommunications company WE, despite knowing that Salah had an agreement in place with rival firm Vodafone and therefore potentially jeopardising that deal. On that occasion, the FA backed down after a massive backlash by ordinary Egyptian fans – and the fear that Salah might pull out of the squad before the World Cup.

But a few years previously, in 2014, Salah was threatened with military service after he had his exemption removed following his move to Chelsea. Salah was also told that his family, still living in Egypt, would not be permitted to leave the country if he failed to comply. In the end, Salah had the exemption upheld, and was photographed being thanked by Egypt’s president for making a generous donation to the voluntary Long Live Egypt government fund, which had been set up the same year.

World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Yasser Al Mosailem – 6/10 Got his decision-making wrong for Salah’s goal; shouldn’t have been so cavalier in rushing off his line to challenge for the ball. Looked uneasy at times dealing with Egypt’s deliveries from the flank. Made up for it with some important late saves. AFP/Getty Images World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Mohammed Al-Burayk – 6/10 Not afraid to push on from right-back. Threatened with the occasional delivery into Egypt’s box. AFP/Getty Images World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Osama Hawsawi – 5/10 Positioning was all over the shop. After struggling to deal with Salah for his first, was almost made to pay moments later when the winger broke through on goal – only to dink his shot wide. AP World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Motaz Hawsawi – 6/10 Notably impressed in a ball-chase against Salah, using his pace and power to deny the Egyptian what would have been a break through on goal. But suffered from repeated lapses in concentration with his passing and positioning. AFP/Getty Images World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Yasser Al-Shahrani – 5/10 Flew under the radar somewhat. Struggled to deal with the threat of Salah as much as his defensive partners. AFP/Getty Images World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Abdullah Otayf – 7/10 Had tricky task of guarding his back line against a free-roaming Salah. No surprises to see him struggling early on. Settled into the game though and ended in full control of the match. Getty Images World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Hattan Bahebri – 5/10 Not that effective in all. Went missing too often and failed to properly threaten from the flank. REUTERS World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Housain Al-Mogahwi – 6/10 It was his misplaced pass that preceded Salah’s goal. A quiet game at first but became more involved during Saudi Arabia's better periods. REUTERS World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Salman Al-Faraj – 7/10 Should have found the back of the net with his first-half effort from the centre of Egypt’s box. Sent it wide instead. Made up for it with his penalty which had Hadary comfortably beat. Grew as the game went on. AFP/Getty Images World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Salem Al-Dawsari – 7/10 Effective coming in from the flank. Threatened with his pace and passing. Repeatedly got the better of his opposite men out on that left wing. Bagged the winning goal in style. REUTERS World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Fahad Al-Muwallad – 6/10 Failed to convert from the spot for Saudi Arabia’s first penalty. Struggled to make his presence felt. REUTERS World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Essam El-Hadary – 7/10 Proved that age is just a number with his magnificent save for Al Muwallad’s penalty, pushing the strike up and onto the upright. Then got injured. Then recovered. Then failed to save Saudi Arabia’s second penalty. Will have been gutted to have been beaten late on. A memorable game in all. EPA World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Ahmed Fathy – 5/10 A disappointing display from him. Gifted Saudi Arabia a number of chances through his poor positioning and passing. Conceded the first penalty. REUTERS World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Ali Gabr 5/10 Unlucky to concede the second penalty of the match, with both players grabbing each other’s shirt in the Egypt box. A harsh decision that could have gone both ways. Started off comfortably but the edge went from his game at times. Lacked consistency. AFP/Getty Images World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Ahmed Hegazi – 6/10 Solid under pressure from the high ball. A commanding presence for much of the game, though his positioning was found wanting at times. REUTERS World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Mohamed Abdel-Shafy - 5/10 A lot of Saudi Arabia’s play came down the right flank. Struggled to contain the threat. Getty Images World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Mohamed Elneny – 6/10 Nothing to shout about from his performance. Moved the ball on where appropriate; looked decent in tight spaces. Put in a shift. Getty Images World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Tarek Hamed – 6/10 Put in a crucial block in the first half to deny Saudi Arabia what would have then been an equaliser. Worked hard for his teammates. Nothing special though. AP World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Abdallah Said – 6/10 Fantastic ball over the top for Salah’s goal; weighted to perfection. Brought off just before the break though. REUTERS World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Mohamed Salah – 7/10 Sublime touch and finish for his goal. Should have added a second moments later but his dinked attempt was hit wide. Showcased his technical side with some very slick footwork to set up Trézéguet for a chance (which was missed). Egypt’s best player by far. AFP/Getty Images World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Trézéguet – 6/10 Always catches the eye with his pace but the end product is still missing from his game – as was the case against Saudi Arabia. Had prime opportunity to double Egypt’s lead after Salah had set him up but sent his effort wide. REUTERS World Cup: Saudi Arabia vs Egypt player ratings Marwan Mohsen – 6/10 Worked the space well in the final third and found himself in some promising goal-scoring opportunities. Missed that dynamic edge, though. AP

He’s not the only footballer to have suffered for disagreeing with the Egyptian and other authoritarian governments. Mohamed Aboutrika, the former golden boy of Egyptian government, was accused of having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, and placed on a list of wanted terrorists by the Egyptian government. He had previously criticised the Sisi government. Another footballer, Ahmed al-Merghany, had his contract terminated for calling Sisi “useless” on social media. Further afield, former Turkey star Hakan Sukur was forced to flee to California after reportedly angering the government of President Erdogan.

Football has always been political. This World Cup has been heavily criticised for being used as a propaganda tool for the Russian government, and whitewashing issues that affect Chechnya and LGBT+ Russian citizens across the country. Though Salah has been criticised for his actions in Chechnya, and would be further criticised if he were to retire, breaking the hearts of millions of his countrymen, if he is indeed being pressured into acting as a political tool for people and beliefs he himself does not support, what option does he have?