Egyptian teen striker Hamza Abdelkarim shines at World Cup 2026

Eighteen‑year‑old forward Hamza Abdelkarim, a product of Al Ahly’s youth system, made history as Egypt’s youngest ever World Cup debutant at the 2026 tournament. After a loan move to Barcelona’s B team in early 2026, he featured as a substitute in all four of Egypt’s matches, accumulating under 15 minutes per game.

Abdelkarim attracted attention ahead of the round‑of‑16 clash with Argentina, insisting “We play against Argentina, not Messi.” He entered the tournament as a surprise talent, having previously scored 12 goals in 21 youth internationals and briefly attracted interest from Feyenoord before joining Barcelona. While veteran Mohamed Salah remains the team’s captain, Abdelkarim’s performances are viewed as a promising sign for Egypt’s future attack.