Hamza Abdelkarim has officially entered the history books — and he did it with just a few minutes on the pitch.
The 18-year-old came off the bench in Egypt’s 5–0 win over South Sudan in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, replacing Omar Marmoush in the 87th minute. Just minutes later, he was celebrating his first goal for the Pharaohs, turning a saved Ibrahim Adel shot into his first senior international goal.
But the goal was more than just a late addition to Egypt’s five-goal haul. At 18 years old, Abdelkarim became the third-youngest player to score for Egypt, joining a pretty historic list that stretches from the 1936 Olympics to the present day.
So, who made the list before him?
1. Abdelkarim Sakr — 17 years, 8 months, 28 days
The youngest of them all is Abdelkarim Sakr, who set the record way back in 1936.
Sakr scored for Egypt against Austria at the Berlin Olympics when he was just 17 years, 8 months and 28 days old. Nearly nine decades later, his record is still standing.
He was nicknamed “The Magician” and he still lives up to it even after all these years.
2. Mido — 17 years, 10 months, 14 days
Next up is one of Egypt’s most recognizable football names: Ahmed Hossam, better known as Mido.
He scored against the United Arab Emirates in a 2001 friendly at just 17 years, 10 months and 14 days old, putting him less than two months behind Sakr’s record.
Mido would go on to build a major career in European football, but his Egypt story started with a goal before he had even turned 18.
3. Hamza Abdelkarim — 18 years, 8 months, 28 days
And now, Hamza Abdelkarim.
The young forward found the net against South Sudan on September 29, 2026, scoring in stoppage time after coming on just minutes earlier. At 18 years, 8 months and 28 days, he became Egypt’s third-youngest scorer.
It was also his first official senior goal, making the moment even sweeter. Abdelkarim had already made his Egypt debut in 2026, but before this match, he was still waiting for that first senior goal.
He did not exactly make us wait long once his chance arrived.
4. Ramadan Sobhi — 19 years, 2 months, 6 days
Ramadan Sobhi comes next, having scored for Egypt against Nigeria in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in 2016.
He was 19 years, 2 months and 6 days old at the time, becoming one of the youngest players to find the net for the national team.
Not a bad age to make your mark on the international stage.
5. Mohamed Salah — 19 years, 3 months, 23 days
And rounding out the six is, of course, Mohamed Salah.
Before becoming one of the biggest names in Egyptian football, Salah was already scoring for the national team as a teenager. He found the net against Niger in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in 2011, aged 19 years, 3 months and 23 days.
So yes, Salah himself once occupied a spot on this very list — long before all the records, trophies and goals that followed.
A new name on an old list
Hamza Abdelkarim’s first Egypt goal puts him alongside some serious names in the country’s football history, from Abdelkarim Sakr and Mido to Ramadan Sobhi and Mohamed Salah.
And considering Abdelkarim is still only 18, there is plenty of time for this first goal to become the beginning of a much longer international story.
For now, though, he can enjoy a pretty cool piece of trivia: his first senior goal for Egypt also made him one of the youngest players ever to score for the Pharaohs.
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