Before Mohamed Salah in Egypt, there was Mido. The moody striker led his country to the African Cup of Nations trophy in 2006 and played in Europe’s top leagues.

Ahmed “Mido” Hossam in 2006 with the Africa Cup of Nations trophyPhoto: KARIM JAAFAR / AFP / Profimedia

Mido started football in Zamalek, and in 2000 he moved to Europe, to Genk. From Belgium, he moved to Holland a year later and won 4 trophies with Ajax. Further spells at Celta, Marseille, Roma, Tottenham, Middlesbrough, Wigan, Zamalek and West Ham followed before he retired in 2013 aged 29 years with “Barnsley”.

Not long after he hung up his boots, Mido, now 39, underwent a radical physical transformation. He gained a lot of weight, and doctors told him that he was on the verge of diabetes and would die before he turned 40. Then the Egyptian decided to change his lifestyle and lost about 40 kilograms in six months.

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