Young Egyptian player, Hamza Abdelkarim, made his competitive debut for FC Barcelona during the club’s 5–2 La Liga victory over Rayo Vallecano on Monday, 31 August, becoming the first Egyptian player to represent Barcelona’s first team in a competitive fixture.
Abdelkarim entered the match in the closing stages, replacing Raphinha. Although his time on the pitch was brief, the appearance carried enormous significance.
He became the first Egyptian player in Barcelona’s history to appear in a competitive match for the first team. He is also only the third Egyptian to play in La Liga, following Mido and Haissem Hassan.
The 18-year-old had impressed throughout Barcelona’s preseason, finishing as the team’s leading scorer with four goals. His performances in training also caught the attention of head coach Hansi Flick, who had previously praised the youngster’s mentality, improvement and goalscoring ability.
He came onto the pitch as Barcelona controlled the closing moments of a convincing victory, and he was on the field when the Catalan side scored their fifth and final goal.
Abdelkarim’s journey to Barcelona came through the youth system at Al Ahly SC before joining Barcelona on loan in February 2026, with the Spanish club holding an option to make the transfer permanent. Barcelona described him as a mobile forward with an eye for goal when announcing his arrival.
After making his way into Barcelona’s youth setup, Abdelkarim immediately made an impression. His first appearance for Juvenil A came against Huesca on March 8, and he scored in a 2–2 draw.
He subsequently scored six goals in nine league appearances, including a hat-trick in a 9–0 victory over Montecarlo.
His achievement also adds another chapter to the history of Egyptian players in Spanish football, following the likes of Mido and Haissem Hassan in reaching La Liga.
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