LAFC right-back Omar Gaber says that while Liverpool star and Egypt teammate Mohamed Salah is a great player, he's an even better person.
Salah has taken England by storm since joining Liverpool for a then-club record fee last summer and has repaid the club with 40 goals in all competitions thus far, including a league-high 30 in the Premier League.
Salah scored the winning penalty over Congo last fall to qualify Egypt for their first World Cup finals in 28 years and Pharaohs teammate Gaber hailed the character of the former Roma and Chelsea man.
"For sure, he's a great player," Gaber told MLSsoccer.com. "But maybe for most people who know him as a person, know he's a great person as well, he's so humble, he's so kind, I like him so much. He's my brother."
Gaber has been hampered by injuries which have threatened his place in the World Cup finals in Russia this summer. But the ex-Basel man is hoping his current spell of good health will help him achieve his dream of taking part in the sport's biggest tournament.
"If anyone represents his national team, it's a point of pride," Gaber said. "I will fight in the training and the next games to be with the national team in Russia."
Gaber added: "For the Egyptian people it's a great feeling that we qualified after 28 years. I hope I will be with them."
Egypt have never advanced to the knockout rounds of a World Cup and will need an in-form Salah to navigate a tricky group which includes the hosts, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
"[Salah] is on fire now," Gaber said. "I hope that he will continue like this and will be the best player in the world."