Egyptian teenage striker Hamza Abdelkarim has forcefully entered Barcelona manager Hansi Flick's plans after a remarkable pre-season campaign. According to a report published by Reuters on Friday, August 22, 2026, the 18-year-old scored four goals in five pre-season appearances, making him the club's top scorer during the preparation period.
How did Abdelkarim perform during the pre-season?
Hamza Abdelkarim joined Barcelona during the last winter transfer window from Egyptian club Al Ahly. The Catalan club decided to exercise the permanent purchase option for the player in June, signing him to a contract that runs until the summer of 2029. During pre-season, Abdelkarim started four of the five matches he played, scoring in three of them. His standout moment was the opening goal in the Joan Gamper Trophy match against his former club Al Ahly, held at Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona on August 19, 2026.
He also scored a brace in a draw in Birmingham, and found the net within just four minutes of coming on as a substitute in a match in Basel. The only match he didn't score in was during the triangular tournament held in Udine, Italy. The report described Abdelkarim as a classic centre-forward with a poacher's instinct, strength in aerial duels, and an ability to link up with wingers.
What is Abdelkarim's background with the Egypt national team?
Abdelkarim's emergence at Barcelona comes after his participation with the Egypt national team at the 2026 World Cup. Manager Hossam Hassan included him in the squad for the global tournament. The player made four substitute appearances during the competition, failing to score but earning praise for his physicality and willingness to tussle with experienced defenders.
Abdelkarim had previously represented Egypt's Under-17 team at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, scoring twice and providing one assist in four appearances. Egyptian fans hope he can follow in the footsteps of star Mohamed Salah, with the young player stating: "Salah always speaks to me. I have to make the most of his advice. We all know that what Salah has achieved is no coincidence."
What is the current status of the Egypt national team?
Abdelkarim's rise comes as the Egypt national team sits second in World Cup qualifying, having collected 5 points from 3 matches with one win and two draws. The team has scored 5 goals while conceding 3 for a +2 goal difference. Egypt's last result was a 3-2 defeat to Argentina on July 7, 2026. The team shows inconsistent form in their last five matches with one win, three draws, and one loss.
Followers of the Egypt national team can monitor the latest squad developments via our squad page, and check the team's qualifying position on our standings page.
What's next for Abdelkarim?
Abdelkarim faces strong competition for a starting spot in Barcelona's lineup, especially following the departures of both Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres from the club this summer, with no direct striker replacements signed. The young player faces a historic opportunity to lead Barcelona's attack in their LaLiga opener against Elche this Sunday.
Abdelkarim had cut short his post-World Cup holiday to join Barcelona's pre-season camp, demonstrating his determination and ambition. This resolve could be key to achieving his dream of becoming a global star and contributing to raising the level of the Egypt national team, which seeks better results in upcoming matches. Egyptian fans can follow the player's statistics and performance development via our stats page.
