Egypt's Future Star: Barcelona's Abdelkarim Shines

Egypt's national football team coach, Hossam Hassan, has expressed significant praise for Barcelona's young striker, Hamza Abdelkarim. The 18-year-old has been included in the squad for the World Cup 2026, marking a major step in his burgeoning career. Barcelona has recently secured the player on a permanent basis, underscoring their belief in his potential.

Hassan highlighted Abdelkarim's impressive personality, technical abilities, and ambition. He noted the player's overqualified performance at the youth level and his positive impact during the 2025 U-17 World Cup. The coach believes Abdelkarim possesses all the qualities of a strong player, capable of significantly benefiting Egyptian football in the near future.

Furthermore, Hassan alluded to Abdelkarim as a potential future leader for Egyptian football, even suggesting he could follow in the footsteps of national icon Mohamed Salah. He emphasized that nurturing young talents like Abdelkarim and Omar Marmoush is crucial for the long-term legacy of the sport in Egypt. Salah himself has reportedly taken on a mentorship role for Abdelkarim during their time with the national team. Egypt is set to begin their World Cup campaign today against Belgium.