Mohamed Aboutrika facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mohamed Aboutrika
محمد أبو تريكة

Aboutrika lining up for Al Ahly in 2011
Personal information
Date of birth	(1978-11-07) 7 November 1978 (age 46)
Place of birth	Nahia, Giza, Egypt
Height	1.83 m
Playing position	Attacking midfielder, forward
Youth career
1990–1997	Tersana
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1997–2003	Tersana	165	(91)
2004–2013	Al Ahly	163	(77)
2013	→ Baniyas (loan)	6	(2)
Total		334	(170)
National team
2000	Egypt U23	1	(0)
2012	Egypt Olympic (O.P.)	4	(2)
2001–2013	Egypt	100	(38)
Honours Men's football Representing  Egypt Africa Cup of Nations Winner 2006 Egypt Winner 2008 Ghana
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Mohamed Aboutrika (born November 7, 1978) is a famous Egyptian retired footballer. He played as an attacking midfielder and forward. Many people think he is one of the best African players ever.

Aboutrika helped the Egyptian national team win the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. He also helped his club, Al Ahly, win a bronze medal at the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup. Off the field, he is known for helping people and doing good deeds in Egypt.

Club Career Highlights

Starting with Al Ahly

In January 2004, Aboutrika joined Al Ahly. He quickly scored 11 goals in his first 13 games. This made him the second-highest scorer in the Egyptian League that season.

His great play for Al Ahly caught the attention of the Egyptian national team. He scored his first national goal in a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago.

Winning Big in 2005

In 2005, Al Ahly won the Egyptian League again after four years. Aboutrika was a key player. He also helped Al Ahly win the 2005 CAF Champions League. He scored a goal from 30 yards out in the final.

Al Ahly played in the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship. However, they finished last. Aboutrika said the team lost its good form during the tournament.

A Super Year in 2006

Aboutrika had an amazing year in 2006. He helped Egypt win the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored two important goals and the winning penalty in the final.

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 the competition with 8 goals. He scored the winning goal in the final in the last minute.

Al Ahly also won the CAF Super Cup, Egyptian Premier League, Egypt Cup, and Egyptian Super Cup that year. Aboutrika was the top scorer in the Egyptian Premier League with 18 goals.

He also shined at the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan. Al Ahly became the first African team to win a medal there, taking bronze. Aboutrika was the top scorer in the tournament with 3 goals.

Awards and Recognition

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 second but won "best interclub player" and "best player in the CAF Champions League."

His former coach, Manuel José, called him "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. They also won the Egypt Cup again, with Aboutrika as the top scorer.

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

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

African Champion Again in 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 tournament for the second time in a row.

He also scored in the semi-final and twice in the group stage. He was named the 2008 BBC African Footballer of the Year.

Returning from Injury in 2008

Aboutrika returned from injury in August 2008. He scored the winning goal for Al Ahly in the 93rd minute against Dynamos F.C. in the 2008 CAF Champions League. He also helped Al Ahly win their group.

He was nominated for the 2008 Glo-CAF African Footballer of the Year award. He was also on the shortlist for the Best Player on the Continent.

2012: A Difficult but Strong Year

After a tragic stadium event in February 2012, Aboutrika briefly thought about retiring. However, he decided to keep playing.

He helped Al Ahly win their seventh CAF Champions League title, scoring 6 goals. In one amazing match, he scored a hat-trick to help Al Ahly come back from behind and win.

Olympic Games and Club World Cup

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

He scored the winning goal for Al Ahly at the Club World Cup. This made him one of the top scorers in the tournament's history with 4 goals.

African Player of the Year (Based in Africa)

Aboutrika was named African Player of the Year Based in Africa for the third time in 2012. He had also won it in 2006 and 2008.

Final Season in 2013

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

He returned to Al Ahly and helped them win the 2013 CAF Champions League. He scored his 12th and 13th goals in the Cairo Derby, becoming a top scorer in this rivalry. His 32nd goal for Al Ahly in African competitions helped them win the final.

He was also named in the Goal 50 list for the second time, a big honor for an Africa-based player.

Retirement from Football

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

International Career Summary

Mohamed Aboutrika played 100 matches for the Egypt national football team, scoring 38 goals. He played his first game in 2001. He became a key player after 2004.

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 with 14 goals.

World Cup Qualifiers

Aboutrika was important in Egypt's 2006 World Cup qualifiers. He scored 3 goals in the first 3 matches.

In the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, he scored the winning goal against Congo DR. He scored 5 goals in total during these qualifiers.

For the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Aboutrika was the second-highest scorer with 5 goals and 9 assists. He scored his 100th international cap in a qualifier against Guinea. He became Egypt's all-time top scorer in World Cup Qualifiers with 14 goals.

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

Personal Life and Values

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

Bob Bradley, a former coach of the Egyptian national team, said Aboutrika was "incredibly popular." He added that Aboutrika was "respected not just as a player but as a man."

Helping Others

Aboutrika believes that athletes should help society. He said, "Every athlete has a humanitarian role in society." He likes to help the poor and use football for good causes.

In 2005, he joined famous players like Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane for a 'Match Against Poverty' in Germany. This game raised money and awareness for people in need.

He also appeared in a public service announcement for the World Food Programme. He wanted to show that many people die from hunger every day. In 2013, he even paid to build a mosque in Ghana.

Speaking Out for Gaza

After scoring a goal in the 2008 African Cup of Nations, Aboutrika showed a T-shirt that said "Sympathize with Gaza." He was showing support for people in Gaza. He received a yellow card for this, as rules do not allow political messages during games.

Supporting Fans

Aboutrika showed strong support for the "Ultras Ahlawy" fan group. This group wanted justice for 74 Al Ahly supporters who died in a stadium incident. Aboutrika refused to play in a match to show his support for them. He believed that football should not resume until justice was served for the fans.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances and Goals

International Appearances and Goals

Scores and results list Egypt's goal tally first.

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
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

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 and Assister 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 with Elano, Maicon and Joan Capdevila)
• FIFA World Cup qualification top goalscorer: 2014 (Shared with Mohamed Salah and Asamoah Gyan)

Records

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

See also

In Spanish: Mohamed Aboutrika para niños

• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps