Hamza Abdelkarim Becomes Egypt’s Youngest World Cup Player

Hamza Abdelkarim, 18, became the youngest player to represent Egypt at a FIFA World Cup when he entered the 1‑1 draw with Belgium in the tournament opener. He was substituted on in the 75th minute for Mohamed Salah. Barcelona’s long‑term investment in the forward is highlighted by his rapid rise.

Abdelkarim was 18 years and five months old, surpassing the previous record held for 92 years. The former benchmark belonged to Mostafa Kamel Mansour, who played at the 1934 World Cup at 19 years and nine months.

Abdelkarim arrived on loan from Al Ahly in January before Barcelona activated a €1.5 million purchase option. The deal is described as low‑risk with potentially huge upside given his age and development curve.

Hansi Flick is expected to monitor Abdelkarim’s development closely, and there is a possibility he could join first‑team pre‑season preparations for the new campaign. The club’s staff have already taken note of his performances.

A photo of Abdelkarim’s debut was provided by Fran Santiago/Getty Images. The image captures his entrance during the match against Belgium.