Mohamed Aboutrika facts for kids

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Mohamed Aboutrika
محمد أبو تريكة

Aboutrika lining up for Al Ahly in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Mohamed Mohamed Mohamed Aboutrika
Date of birth	(1978-11-07) 7 November 1978 (age 46)
Place of birth	Nahia, Giza, Egypt
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder, forward
Youth career
1990–1997	Tersana
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1997–2003	Tersana	165	(100)
2004–2013	Al Ahly	163	(77)
2013	→ Baniyas (loan)	6	(2)
Total		334	(170)
International career
2000	Egypt U23	1	(0)
2012	Egypt Olympic (O.P.)	4	(2)
2001–2013	Egypt	100	(38)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Egypt Africa Cup of Nations Winner 2006 Egypt Winner 2008 Ghana
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mohamed Mohamed Mohamed Aboutrika (Arabic: محمد محمد محمد أبو تريكة; born 7 November 1978) is a retired Egyptian professional footballer. He played as an attacking midfielder and a forward. Many people consider him one of the greatest African players ever.

Aboutrika helped the Egyptian national team win the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored the winning goal in the 2008 final. He also helped his club, Al Ahly, win a bronze medal at the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup.

Off the field, Aboutrika is known for his charity work and helping people in Egypt.

Club Career Highlights

Starting with Al Ahly in 2004

Aboutrika joined Al Ahly in January 2004. He quickly became a key player. He scored 11 goals in his first 13 games for the club. This helped him finish second among the top scorers in the Egyptian League that season.

His great play for Al Ahly also caught the eye of the Egyptian national team. He played his first game for Egypt in March 2004. He scored his first national goal in this match.

Winning Big in 2005

In 2005, Al Ahly won the Egyptian League Championship again. Aboutrika was a big part of this success. He also helped Al Ahly win the 2005 CAF Champions League. He scored a fantastic goal from 30 yards out in the final.

Al Ahly played in the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship but finished last. Aboutrika said the team lost its good form.

A Golden Year in 2006

The year 2006 was amazing for Aboutrika. He helped Egypt win the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored two important goals in the tournament. In the final, he scored the winning penalty kick in the shootout. This gave Egypt the championship title.

He also led Al Ahly to win the 2006 CAF Champions League for the second time in a row. He was the top scorer in this competition with 8 goals. He scored the winning goal in the final in the last minute.

Aboutrika also won the CAF Super Cup, the Egyptian Premier League, the Egypt Cup, and the Egyptian Super Cup in 2006. He was the top scorer in the Egyptian Premier League with 18 goals.

Shining at the FIFA Club World Cup 2006

Aboutrika and Al Ahly played in the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan. Al Ahly was the first African team to win a medal in this competition. Aboutrika was nominated as one of the best players.

He scored a great free-kick goal against Auckland City. In the third-place match against Club América, he scored two goals. His second goal was a skillful shot that secured the bronze medal for Al Ahly. He finished as the tournament's top scorer with 3 goals.

Aboutrika won almost every competition he played in that year. He was the top scorer in three major competitions.

African Footballer of the Year Nomination 2006

Aboutrika was nominated for the 2006 CAF African Footballer of the Year award. He was the only player from an African club on the list. He finished in second place. He also won "best interclub player" and "best player in the CAF Champions League."

His coach, Manuel José de Jesus, called Aboutrika "the best football player in Africa." He said Aboutrika was "priceless" for the team.

Continued Success in 2007

In 2007, Al Ahly won the Egyptian Premier League for the third year in a row. Aboutrika scored 7 goals despite an injury. Al Ahly also won the Egypt Cup again. Aboutrika was the top scorer in the cup with 4 goals.

He scored a memorable goal against Tala'ea El-Gaish SC. In the final against Zamalek SC, he scored a late equalizer. He also set up two more goals to help Al Ahly win the cup. Al Ahly then won the Egyptian Super Cup for the third time.

Aboutrika was named Best Player in Egypt for the fourth year in a row.

Dominance in 2008

African Cup of Nations 2008 In 2008, Aboutrika scored 4 goals for Egypt in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored the winning goal against Cameroon in the final. This helped Egypt win the African Cup of Nations for the second time in a row. He also scored in the semi-final and twice in the group stage.

CAF Champions League 2008 Aboutrika returned from injury to help Al Ahly in the 2008 CAF Champions League. He scored a winning goal against Dynamos F.C. in the last minute. He also scored against Zamalek SC and ASEC Mimosas.

He was named the 2008 BBC African Footballer of the Year.

African Footballer of the Year Nomination 2008 Aboutrika was one of the top three players nominated for the Glo-CAF African Footballer of the Year award. He was also nominated for the "Best Player on the Continent" award.

FIFA World Cup 2010 Qualifiers Aboutrika scored goals in Egypt's World Cup qualifiers. He scored against Algeria and twice against Rwanda. He finished with five goals in the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers.

Challenges and Triumphs in 2012

Port Said Stadium Events After a tragic event at the Port Said Stadium disaster in February 2012, Aboutrika decided to stop playing football for a short time. Many fans had died in the incident. The Egyptian Premier League was then cancelled. Aboutrika later decided to return to the game.

CAF Champions League Victory Aboutrika helped Al Ahly win their seventh CAF Champions League title. He scored 6 goals in the competition. In one amazing match, he scored his first ever Champions League hat-trick. This helped Al Ahly come back from behind to win.

London 2012 Olympics Aboutrika was one of the older players on the Egyptian Olympic team at London 2012. He was the team captain. He scored Egypt's first goal in the tournament against Brazil. He also assisted goals and scored another to help Egypt reach the quarter-finals.

Club World Cup Success Aboutrika scored the winning goal for Al Ahly against Sanfrecce Hiroshima at the Club World Cup. This secured his team a spot in the quarter-finals. Al Ahly finished fourth. Aboutrika became one of the top scorers in FIFA Club World Cup history with 4 goals.

Africa Based Player of the Year Aboutrika was named African Player of the Year Based in Africa for the third time. He had previously won the award in 2006 and 2008.

Final Season and Retirement in 2013

In early 2013, Aboutrika played on loan for Baniyas SC. He helped them win the 2012–13 GCC Champions League. He scored in the semi-final and final matches.

He then returned to Al Ahly and helped them win the 2013 CAF Champions League. He scored against Zamalek SC in the group stage. This was his 12th goal in the Cairo Derby, a personal record. He later scored his 13th goal, becoming a top scorer in Cairo Derby matches.

Aboutrika scored important goals in the semi-final and final of the Champions League. His goal in the final helped Al Ahly win the title again. This was his 32nd goal for Al Ahly in African competitions.

FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers Aboutrika continued to play for the Egyptian national team. He scored a last-minute goal against Zimbabwe in a World Cup Qualifier. He also scored and assisted goals in other qualifiers.

In September 2013, Aboutrika played his 100th game for Egypt. He scored a goal and assisted two others. Egypt advanced to a play-off against Ghana. Aboutrika scored in the play-off, becoming Egypt's all-time top scorer in World Cup Qualifiers with 14 goals.

African Footballer of the Year Nomination 2013 Aboutrika was one of ten players nominated for the 2013 Player of the Year award. The winner was announced in January 2014.

Retirement Aboutrika announced his retirement from football on 20 December 2013. This was after Egypt did not qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

International Career Summary

Aboutrika played 100 matches for Egypt and scored 38 goals. He played his first game in 2001. He became a key player from 2004 onwards.

He helped Egypt win two African Cup of Nations titles in 2006 and 2008. He scored the winning penalty in the 2006 final and the winning goal in the 2008 final. He is also Egypt's all-time top scorer in World Cup Qualifiers.

2006 FIFA World Cup Qualification

Aboutrika was an important player for Egypt in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. He scored 3 goals in the first 3 matches.

2006 African Cup of Nations

Aboutrika was a star player in the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored two important goals. He also assisted a winning goal in the semi-final. In the final, he scored the winning penalty kick.

2008 African Cup of Nations

Aboutrika helped Egypt defend their title in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored 4 goals. His most important goal was the winning goal against Cameroon in the final.

2009 FIFA Confederations Cup

Aboutrika played for Egypt in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. He assisted two goals against Brazil. He also assisted Egypt's winning goal against Italy.

A sports journalist praised Aboutrika, calling him "possibly the greatest footballer in the history of the world with a bachelor's diploma in philosophy."

2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification

Aboutrika scored the winning goal against Congo DR in September 2008. This helped Egypt secure their place in the next round of qualifiers. He scored another goal against Djibouti.

He also scored against Algeria and twice against Rwanda in 2009.

2012 Summer Olympics

Aboutrika was a captain for the Egyptian team at London 2012. He scored Egypt's first goal against Brazil. He also assisted and scored goals to help Egypt reach the quarter-finals.

2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification

Aboutrika with a fan after an international friendly match in preparation for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

In the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Aboutrika was one of the top scorers with 5 goals and 9 assists. He scored two goals against Guinea. He also scored a last-minute penalty against Zimbabwe.

On 10 September 2013, Aboutrika played his 100th game for Egypt. He scored a goal and assisted two others. Egypt won and advanced to a play-off. Aboutrika scored in the play-off against Ghana. He became Egypt's all-time top scorer in World Cup Qualifiers with 14 goals.

Personal Life

Aboutrika studied philosophy at Cairo University. He is married and has five children. One of his children, Ahmed, is also a professional footballer.

Bob Bradley, the American coach of the Egyptian national team, praised Aboutrika. He said Aboutrika was "incredibly popular" and "respected not just as a player but as a man." He called him a "leader."

Helping Others

Aboutrika believes that athletes should help society. He said, "Every athlete has a humanitarian role in society. He doesn't live solely for himself, but for others, too." He likes to help the poor and use football for good.

In 2005, Aboutrika joined famous players like Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane for a 'Match Against Poverty' in Germany. This match raised money and awareness about poverty. He scored a goal in that game.

He also volunteered for a Public Service Announcement (PSA) for the World Food Programme (WFP). In the PSA, he talked about how many people die from hunger every day.

In October 2013, Aboutrika helped build a mosque in Ghana. He used his own money to build it for the people of Tafo.

Supporting Fans

After the tragic events at Port Said Stadium in 2012, Aboutrika supported the Ultras Ahlawy fan group. He decided not to play in a match because the fans wanted justice for those who died. He sided with the fans who believed justice had not been done.

Later Events

In 2015, Aboutrika's assets were frozen because of his shares in a company. There were claims of links to a political group, which he denied. His appeals were first rejected, but a court later overturned the decision in June 2016.

In January 2017, Egypt added him to a list of people with alleged ties to a banned group. However, in May 2024, the Egyptian Court of Cassation cancelled this listing for Aboutrika and many others.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list Egypt's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Aboutrika goal.

List of international goals scored by Mohamed Aboutrika

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	31 March 2004	Osman Ahmed Osman Stadium, Cairo, Egypt	Trinidad and Tobago	1–0	2–1	Friendly
2	24 May 2004	Cairo Military Academy Stadium, Cairo, Egypt	Zimbabwe	2–0	2–0	Friendly
3	6 June 2004	Khartoum Stadium, Khartoum, Sudan	Sudan	2–0	3–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
4	20 June 2004	Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt	Ivory Coast	1–1	1–2	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
5	4 July 2004	Stade de l'Amitié, Cotonou, Benin	Benin	2–3	3–3	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
6	29 July 2005	Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland	Qatar	1–0	5–0	Friendly
7				4–0
8	20 January 2006	Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt	Libya	2–0	3–0	2006 Africa Cup of Nations
9	28 January 2006	Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt	Ivory Coast	2–1	3–1	2006 Africa Cup of Nations
10	2 September 2006	Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt	Burundi	3–0	4–1	2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
11	26 January 2008	Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana	Sudan	2–0	3–0	2008 Africa Cup of Nations
12				3–0
13	7 February 2008	Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana	Ivory Coast	4–1	4–1	2008 Africa Cup of Nations
14	10 February 2008	Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana	Cameroon	1–0	1–0	2008 Africa Cup of Nations Final
15	7 September 2008	Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, DR Congo	DR Congo	1–0	1–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
16	12 October 2008	Cairo Military Academy Stadium, Cairo, Egypt	Djibouti	3–0	4–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
17	19 November 2008	Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt	Benin	4–0	5–1	Friendly
18				5–0
19	30 May 2009	Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman	Oman	1–0	1–0	Friendly
20	7 June 2009	Mustapha Tchaker Stadium, Blida, Algeria	Algeria	1–3	1–3	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
21	5 July 2009	Cairo Military Academy Stadium, Cairo, Egypt	Rwanda	1–0	3–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
22				3–0
23	2 October 2009	Petro Sport Stadium, Cairo, Egypt	Mauritius	1–0	4–0	Friendly
24				3–0
25	11 August 2010	Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt	DR Congo	3–2	6–3	Friendly
26	5 January 2011	Osman Ahmed Osman Stadium, Cairo, Egypt	Tanzania	2–0	5–1	2011 Nile Basin Tournament
27	29 March 2012	Khartoum Stadium, Khartoum, Sudan	Uganda	2–0	2–1	Friendly
28	12 April 2012	Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates	Nigeria	2–1	3–2	Friendly
29	20 May 2012	Al Merreikh Stadium, Omdurman, Sudan	Cameroon	2–1	2–1	Friendly
30	10 June 2012	Stade du 28 Septembre, Conakry, Guinea	Guinea	1–1	3–2	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
31				2–1
32	12 October 2012	Khalid Bin Mohammed Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates	Congo	1–0	3–0	Friendly
33				3–0
34	14 January 2013	Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates	Ivory Coast	1–0	2–4	Friendly
35	26 March 2013	Borg El Arab Stadium, Cairo, Egypt	Zimbabwe	2–1	2–1	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
36	9 June 2013	National Sports Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe	Zimbabwe	1–0	4–2	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
37	10 September 2013	El Gouna Stadium, Hurghada, Egypt	Guinea	2–1	4–2	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
38	15 October 2013	Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana	Ghana	1–2	1–6	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours and Achievements

Al Ahly

• Egyptian Premier League: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
• Egypt Cup: 2006, 2007
• Egyptian Super Cup: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012
• CAF Champions League: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013
• CAF Super Cup: 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013
• FIFA Club World Cup third place: 2006

Baniyas

• GCC Champions League: 2012–13

Egypt

• African Cup of Nations: 2006, 2008
• Nile Basin Tournament: 2011

Individual Awards

• EFA Egyptian Player of the Year: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• African Inter-Club Player of the Year: 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013
• CAF Team of the Year: 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013
• Africa Cup of Nations Dream Team: 2006, 2008
• World's Most Popular Footballer: 2007, 2008
• El Heddaf Arab Footballer of the Year: 2007, 2008, 2012
• Al Mountakhab Arab Footballer of the Year: 2008
• BBC African Footballer of the Year: 2008
• 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Final: Man of the Match
• FIFA Confederations Cup Dream Team: 2009
• Goal 50: 2009, 2013
• IFFHS Legends: 2016

Orders

• Grand Cordon of Order of the Republic

Top Scorer Awards

• Egyptian Second Division top goalscorer: 1999–00
• Egyptian Premier League top goalscorer: 2005–06
• CAF Champions League top goalscorer: 2006
• FIFA Club World Cup top goalscorer: 2006
• Egypt Cup top goalscorer: 2007
• FIFA Confederations Cup top assist provider: 2009 (Shared)
• FIFA World Cup qualification top goalscorer: 2014 (Shared)

Records

• African Inter-Club Player of the Year (Based in Africa): 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013

See also

In Spanish: Mohamed Aboutrika para niños