Liverpool forward Mo Salah, who was born in Egypt, has drawn criticism for being hugged by a model in his most recent magazine cover image, which some feel highlights social injustices.

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GQ Middle East’s cover features Salah and Alessandra Ambrosio, a former Victoria’s Secret Angel.

In the contentious second version, Ambrosio is seen embracing him from behind, although in the original they are shown side by side.

A group giggle is caught on camera in a behind-the-scenes video with the actors.

The majority of responses, particularly those from Egypt, concentrated on Salah’s acceptance by the model despite the fact that he is an Orthodox married Muslim guy.

A Twitter user said, “Imagine if a married Muslim woman did this.”

Salah was inundated with angry followers who questioned his morality and criticized him for the photographs after the two covers were posted on his social media sites.

One person on Instagram wrote, “You should be ashamed of yourself as a Muslim.”

Jokes concerning Salah’s marriage falling apart or collapsing were frequent in the comments. Tens of millions of people follow the football player globally, but he hasn’t responded to the criticism as of yet.

Salah’s pictures were immediately linked to those of well-known Egyptian ladies who had been subjected to even harsher penalties for deeds deemed immoral. Actress Rania Youssef faced the possibility of a five-year prison sentence when she chose to attend a red carpet event wearing a dress that showed off her upper thighs and legs.

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Salah uploads candid images of himself on social media on a regular basis; his Instagram profile is replete with them. On the other hand, the GQ controversy draws attention to his difficult balancing act between his identities as a Muslim, an Egyptian, and a well-known figure with a substantial fan base outside of the Arab world.

Supporters of the striker questioned why the player was being criticised, claiming that the picture shoot with Ambrosio was appropriate because the player was now both a local celebrity in Egypt and an international A-lister.

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People were so caught up in the drama that they either forgot or declined to congratulate the Liverpool player on his 2019 GQ Man of the Year title.

Following the publication of the two covers on his social media platforms, Salah received a barrage of angry messages from his followers questioning his morality and criticising him for the photos.

On Instagram, someone said, “As a Muslim, you should be ashamed of yourself.”

The remarks were full of jokes about Salah’s marriage imploding or failing. The football player is followed by tens of millions of people worldwide, but he hasn’t yet addressed the criticism.

Salah’s photos were instantly associated with those of well-known Egyptian women who had faced much more severe punishments for actions deemed immoral. When actress Rania Youssef decided to attend a red carpet event wearing a dress that flaunted her upper thighs and legs, she ran the risk of receiving a five-year prison sentence.

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Salah frequently shares unposed photos of himself on social media; his Instagram page is full of them. However, the GQ incident highlights how difficult it is for him to maintain his identities as an Egyptian, a Muslim, and a well-known celebrity with a sizable fan base outside of the Arab world.

The striker’s supporters questioned why the player was receiving criticism, arguing that the photo shoot with Ambrosio was appropriate given that the player was now a worldwide A-lister as well as a local celebrity in Egypt.