It had to be Mo Salah for Egypt

They've called him "The Egyptian King" for a long time.

But this was the night, more than any other, on which Mo Salah truly earned his crown for Egypt.

Before Sunday, the Pharaohs had never won a World Cup match.

But on this night, in Vancouver, the Egyptians edged New Zealand, and Salah was at the heart of it.

They fell behind 1-0 before equalizing, and then it became about Salah.

With the matched knotted at 1-apiece, Salah slotted a left-footed shot into the corner for the go-ahead goal:

MORE: Lamine Yamal outdoes Messi, Ronaldo in historic moment for Spanish wunderkind

Not long after, Salah swung in a great corner kick that was headed home for Egypt's third goal.

It took a while, but eventually everything that Salah touched turned into a goal.

If there was ever going to be a player to lead to this night for Sweden, it's Salah. 

He's an all-time great in the game, one of the best players in the history of Liverpool and the English Premier League.

The world of football may not know where Salah will play next season, but that's without consequence right now.

MORE: Cape Verde captures the magic of sports

All that needs to be known is that Salah continues to shine brightly for his country, in a way that no Egyptian footballer ever has.

And on what amounts to the greatest night in Egypt's football history, it had to be Salah.

The story of their first World Cup win was meant to be written with Salah's name up in lights, and there he was, shining like only he has ever shone.

The spectacular, special Salah remains one of one. Egypt's king will always have this crown.

More FIFA World Cup news:

• USA, England can't actually play on July 4th
• Why Norway brought 600 pounds of salmon to the World Cup
• Eloy Room leads Curacao to astounding World Cup history
• Pink cleats are everywhere at the World Cup
• How Folarin Balogun's mom being too pregnant to fly led him to USMNT