The appearance of the Egyptian star, Mohamed Salah, barefoot after matches with the Egyptian national football team, as well as with his former English club Liverpool, has raised widespread questions.
Mohamed Salah appeared after the end of Egypt's matches, without shoes, while heading to the locker room or during some media interviews, in addition to some group and individual training sessions.
Salah is distinguished by a strong physical build, given his constant commitment to intensive training, inside and outside the club, while following a precise and organized diet to maintain the highest possible readiness.
Salah had caught the attention during his farewell match with Liverpool at the end of the previous 2025/2026 season, against Brentford, in May 2026, the attention of many, leading to questions about the reason for this practice and what benefits come from it.
What is the medical benefit of some athletes not wearing shoes?
According to what was mentioned by the "joinin2" platform specialized in sports management, and also commented on by "The Athletic" newspaper in a video equipped with explanations, practicing walking "barefoot" after a football match works to speed up the physical recovery process by reducing pressure on the feet, getting rid of metabolic waste, and restoring the natural movement of the legs.
This study noted that modern tight football shoes put pressure on the feet for 90 minutes, making walking barefoot immediately after the match a very effective tool for active recovery and giving the body great balance, which is why professional clubs adopt it.
Another study found that walking in simple shoes was as effective as foot strengthening exercises in strengthening foot muscles.
Research also shows that simple training or barefoot training leads to hypertrophy (growth) of the internal foot muscles and hardening of the foot arches over time.
Improving foot strength may lead to reducing the load transferred to the ankles, knees, and hips, resulting in a more natural distribution of forces.
This means that your feet become more flexible. When changing direction, launching, or landing after jumping, stronger foot muscles and better joint support can reduce the risk of injury and improve stability.
Discharging charges.. It is believed that walking barefoot helps balance body functions through direct contact with nature.
Stress relief.. The barefoot walking strategy leads to reducing psychological stress and improving focus.
General health.. This step contributes to improving sleep quality and general relaxation.
Enrique adopts the practice of not wearing shoes
The appearance of Spanish coach Luis Enrique barefoot during Paris Saint-Germain training raised the curiosity of a wide sector of followers, especially after conducting press interviews without wearing shoes.
Enrique explained that the secret behind this goes back to a practice known as "grounding" or what is known in English as "Earthing", which is a habit the Spanish coach has maintained for years.
This practice, according to Enrique's experience, relies on direct contact with the ground, with the aim of helping to reduce tension and psychological stress, improve sleep quality and relaxation, and enhance the feeling of physical and mental balance.
Medical measures and warnings
Despite the relaxation benefits, some sports experts and artists like artist Sherif Hamdi warn Mohamed Salah against walking barefoot in open places or in corridors crowded with photography equipment and wires.
The warning comes to avoid the risk of accidental injuries, such as being stepped on or heavy equipment falling on the foot.
