LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo and Croatian Luka Modric have won the UEFA European Football Association (UEFA) award for the 2017/2018 season for the best player on the continent.
"I am happy to be involved," Salah said of the grand prize in an interview published in the Argentine daily Clarin on Thursday. "They are very big players ... I hope to be among the top three for several times ... I work every day to be better, I have great ambition. "
Salah added that his method of playing might be similar to the style of football in South America, and he admired Argentine football stars Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Gabriel Batistuta.
"I have not seen Maradona very much because of my age, but I remember seeing Batty Gul as they call Batistuta. He played for Roma. Like me".
Salah revealed that he suffered the defeat of Liverpool in the Champions League final against Real Madrid more than his pain for the exit of the Egyptian team from the first round of the World Cup Russia.
The Egyptian star participated in the World Cup after he recovered immediately from a left shoulder injury suffered in the Champions League final after a foul by defender Sergio Ramos sparked controversy.
"At the World Cup I played the last two games (in the group stage). I can say that the final (in the Champions League) hurt me more," he said.
Thanks to his great talent, Salah was chosen as one of the top three strikers in the European championship alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.