While many athletes celebrated Christmas Eve with their families, Mohamed Salah, the star of Egypt, took some time to ponder in his Christmas message. 

The Liverpool striker reminded everyone of the Middle East’s ongoing and urged everyone to remember it in a social media message that focused on Palestine and Israel.

Salah wrote: “Families get together and celebrate over the Christmas season. We observe Christmas this year with heavy hearts and share the suffering of the families who have lost loved ones due to the terrible raging in the Middle East

The difference between Salah’s Christmas post from the previous year, when he shared pictures of his contented family in front of the tree, and this year was brought to light by the British media. The Egyptian celebrity only shared black and white images of their Christmas trees this year.

Bolton’s players, meanwhile, used the holiday season to volunteer. They visited the children’s hospice Derian House and gave numerous gifts and toys. Every participant changed as Santa Claus, distributing gifts from a sack stuffed with toys and other items. Apart from presenting gifts, the players engaged in playtime and cooperative FIFA games with the kids. 

And on the ice in New York City, former Liverpool player Ryan McLaughlin proposed to his longtime love Jennifer McMahon. The proposal was then captured on camera, which McLaughlin shared on social media. Numerous individuals expressed their congratulations to the 29-year-old defender.