Egypt is the most successful country in African football history with seven AFCON titles and multiple World Cup appearances.
The Pharaohs boast a string of top quality players who have made a name for themselves in the top leagues around the world and their influence on world football is ever increasing.
Below are the greatest Egyptian footballers of all time ranked by stats, trophies and impact at club and international level.
|
Level |
The player |
Position |
Career Span |
|---|---|---|---|
|
20 |
Amr Zaki |
Forward |
2002–2015 |
|
19 |
Mohamed Zidane |
Forward |
1999–2014 |
|
18 |
Mido |
Forward |
1999–2013 |
|
17 |
Mohamed Barakat |
Midfielder |
1995–2013 |
|
16 |
Ahmed Elmohamady |
The protector |
2004–2021 |
|
15 |
Hazem Emam |
Midfielder |
1993–2008 |
|
14 |
Ibrahim Hassan |
The protector |
1984-2006 |
|
13 |
Hany Ramzy |
The protector |
1987-2006 |
|
12 |
Magdi Abdelghani |
Midfielder |
1974–1990 |
|
11 |
Hassan Shehata |
Forward |
1972-1986 |
10
Wael Gomaa
1997–2013
Known for his raw power and poise, Wael Gomaa took away some of Africa’s best strikers without needing quick pace or tackling to recover – he was a master of learning the game.
His performance at Al Ahly was a major reason why the club became so powerful in the 2000s, as he helped them win multiple Egyptian league titles and multiple CAF Champions League trophies.
In international competition, Gomaa has been a cornerstone of Egypt’s golden generation, playing a key role in the national team’s historic Africa Cup of Nations victories in 2006, 2008, and 2010.
His consistency over the years, having played 114 games for the Pharaohs, ranks him as one of the best defenders in Africa.
9
Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan
2012-present
Trezeguet has been one of Egypt’s most reliable players in the AFCON and World Cup competitions, playing nearly 100 games for his country and scoring over 20 goals.
His goals in AFCON 2019, tireless running, and determination to follow through have made him vital to Egypt’s balance sheet. Although he is not as world famous as Salah, he used to be a Liverpool legend, and he has a decent club career.
Having played in the Premier League for Aston Villa, the versatile striker has also won the Egyptian Premier League and the CAF Champions League twice.
8
Mahmoud El Gohary
1964-1978
As a player, Mahmoud El Gohary has made a solid contribution even though he hasn’t featured as often for his country as some of the players on this list.
However, his international legacy is historic due to the influence he has on the visibility of the Egyptian national team, with a managerial career spanning more than 40 years.
He led Egypt to Afcon glory and qualification for the 1990 World Cup after a 56-year absence from the world’s biggest competition, reviving faith in the national team.
Few people have shaped the structure of international football and the Egyptian mindset more than El Gohary, who also won the domestic premier league five times as a player and once as a manager.
7
Mohamed Elneny
2012-present
Elneny’s importance is often underestimated, but his intelligence and leadership have been essential for Egypt during major tournaments. He played a key role in Afcon 2017 and 2021 and was part of the 2018 World Cup squad, providing stability to the midfielder.
Elneny rarely stole the headlines, but Egypt often did better with him on the pitch, so it’s no wonder he earned more than 100 caps.
He also boasts one of the most decorated club careers of any Egyptian player, winning the FA Cup with Arsenal and four Swiss league titles for FC Basel.
6
Mahmoud El Khatib
1974-1988
El Khatib’s international career came at a time when there were few international tournaments, but his impact is still significant as he scored 24 goals in 54 games for the Pharaohs.
He represented Egypt with distinction and brought widespread African recognition to Egyptian football, being crowned African Footballer of the Year in 1983.
His club career was impressive, winning the Egyptian league’s golden boot twice and helping Al Ahly to ten top flight titles.
5
Mohamed Aboutrika
1999–2013
Aboutrika was the creative heart of Egypt during its most successful international period.
His intelligence, composure and ability to score important goals made him a key player in the 2006 and 2008 AFCON campaigns, and he met some of the world’s biggest football stars on the international stage.
A prolific goalscorer – 38 in 100 caps to be exact – and linking midfield to attack with ease, Aboutrika’s skill and composure in the middle of the park is unmatched by any other Egyptian player in history.
You scored a goal
out of 20
4
Essam El-Hadary
1993–2019
The international importance of Essam El-Hadary cannot be overstated. He was central to Egypt’s defense during their AFCON reign and played a key role in many penalty kicks.
Winning four AFCON titles and later becoming the oldest player in the history of the World Cup, El-Hadary was the psychological leader of his national team for two decades, making a remarkable 159 appearances for his country.
His club career has also been very successful, as one of Al Ahly’s all-time leading players with numerous domestic trophies.
3
Ahmed Hassan
1995–2012
Ahmed Hassan’s case is built almost entirely on his national team history rather than club football.
He is Egypt’s most capped player of all time and is the passionate leader of a famous team that won three consecutive AFCON titles between 2006 and 2010.
He scored important goals, dominated midfield battles and set the tone physically and mentally.
Few players in the history of African football have managed international competitions in the way that Ahmed Hassan did for such a long time, he managed 184 games and scored 33 goals for his country.
2
Hossam Hassan
1985-2006
When it comes to the pure impact of the national team, Hossam Hassan is one of them. He is Egypt’s top goalscorer and one of the top goalscorers in international football history, with 69 goals to his name for the Pharaohs.
He played for generations, fine-tuning his game and staying decisive until the age of 30, and at club level he won an absurd 14 league titles, 13 of which were in Egypt.
As a manager, he has taken the country to the 2026 World Cup, where he will hope to become the first Egyptian coach to lead his team out of the group stage.
1
Mohamed Salah
2010-present
Even without an international title to his name, Mohamed Salah remains number one.
He is Egypt’s most important player in modern times and has carried the national team through many qualifying campaigns almost single-handedly.
Salah led Egypt to the 2017 and 2021 AFCON finals and is determined to make Egypt reach multiple World Cups.
Although the Egyptian didn’t win a trophy during his prime, his goals, assists and insane trophy haul at the club’s elite level make him one of the greatest of all time, with over 60 goals in over 100 games.
