Egypt are essentially the most profitable nation in African soccer historical past with seven AFCON titles.
The Pharaohs boast a string of excessive profile gamers who’ve made their mark in prime leagues around the globe, and whereas they’ve by no means made it out of the group levels of the World Cup, their affect on international soccer is rising on a regular basis.
Mohamed Salah is about to guide them out in the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026, however is he the best Egyptian participant of all time?
10
Wael Gomaa
Recognized for his brute power and ideal positioning, Wael Gomaa neutralised a number of the greatest attackers in Africa while not having speedy tempo or restoration tackles – he was an professional at studying the sport.
His performances for Al Ahly have been a serious motive behind the membership’s dominance throughout the 2000s, as he helped safe quite a few Egyptian league titles and a number of CAF Champions League trophies.
On the worldwide stage, Gomaa was a cornerstone of Egypt’s golden technology, taking part in a vital position within the nationwide workforce’s historic Africa Cup of Nations victories in 2006, 2008, and 2010.
His consistency over a few years, making 114 appearances for the Pharaohs, units him apart as considered one of Africa’s greatest ever defenders.
9
Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan
Trezeguet has been considered one of Egypt’s most dependable performers in AFCON tournaments and World Cup matches, racking up almost 100 caps for his nation and scoring over 20 targets.
His targets at AFCON 2019, tireless working, and willingness to trace again made him very important to Egypt’s steadiness. Whereas not as globally well-known as Salah, he has usually been the proper foil for the Liverpool legend, and has a good membership profession of his personal.
Having starred within the Premier League for Aston Villa, the versatile ahead has additionally gained the Egyptian Premier League as soon as and the CAF Champions League twice.
8
Mahmoud El Gohary
As a participant, Mahmoud El Gohary contributed solidly regardless of not making as many appearances for his nation as the opposite gamers on this record.
Nonetheless, his worldwide legacy is historic due to his general affect on Egypt’s nationwide workforce identification, with a managerial profession spanning over 40 years.
He led Egypt to AFCON glory and qualification for the 1990 World Cup after 56 12 months absence from the world’s biggest competitors, rebuilding perception within the nationwide workforce.
Few people formed Egypt’s worldwide soccer construction and mentality greater than El Gohary, who additionally gained the nation’s prime home league 5 instances as a participant and as soon as as a supervisor.
7
Mohamed Elneny
Elneny’s significance is usually underestimated, however his tactical self-discipline and management have been essential for Egypt throughout main tournaments. He performed a key position in AFCON 2017 and 2021 and was a part of the 2018 World Cup squad, offering stability in midfield.
Elneny hardly ever stole headlines, however Egypt usually functioned higher with him on the pitch, so it is little marvel he earned over 100 caps.
He additionally boasts some of the embellished membership careers on the prime stage of any Egyptian participant, successful the FA Cup with Arsenal and 4 Swiss league titles for FC Basel.
6
Mahmoud El Khatib
El Khatib’s worldwide profession got here in an period with fewer international tournaments, however his influence stays vital having scored 24 instances in 54 appearances for the Pharaohs.
He represented Egypt with distinction and introduced wider African recognition to Egyptian soccer, being topped African Footballer of the 12 months in 1983.
His membership profession was outstanding, successful the Egyptian league’s golden boot twice and serving to Al Ahly to an unimaginable ten prime flight titles.
5
Mohamed Aboutrika
Aboutrika was Egypt’s inventive coronary heart throughout considered one of its most profitable worldwide eras.
His intelligence, calmness and skill to attain decisive targets made him indispensable within the 2006 and 2008 AFCON campaigns, and he went toe to toe with a few of world soccer’s biggest stars on the worldwide stage.
Scoring iconic targets – 38 in 100 caps to be exact – and linking midfield to assault effortlessly, Aboutrika’s ability and poise in the midst of the park is unmatched by some other Egyptian participant in historical past.
4
Essam El-Hadary
Essam El-Hadary’s worldwide significance can’t be overstated. He was the spine of Egypt’s protection throughout their AFCON dominance and performed a decisive position in a number of penalty shootouts.
Profitable 4 AFCON titles and later turning into the oldest participant in World Cup historical past, El-Hadary was the psychological chief of his nationwide facet for 20 years, making a outstanding 159 appearances for his nation.
His membership profession additionally yielded nice success, as considered one of Al Ahly’s biggest ever gamers with numerous home trophies to his title.
3
Ahmed Hassan
Ahmed Hassan’s case is constructed nearly solely on his nationwide workforce legacy versus membership soccer.
He’s Egypt’s most capped participant and the emotional chief of the legendary squad that gained three consecutive AFCON titles between 2006and 2010.
He scored essential targets, managed midfield battles and set the tone bodily and mentally.
Few gamers in African soccer historical past have dominated worldwide tournaments the best way Ahmed Hassan did over such a protracted interval, managing a merely unimaginable 184 caps and scoring 33 instances for his nation.
2
Hossam Hassan
Relating to pure nationwide workforce influence, Hossam Hassan is considered one of one. He’s Egypt’s all-time prime scorer and one of many highest scorers in worldwide soccer historical past, with 69 targets to his title for the Pharaohs.
He performed throughout generations, adapting his sport and remaining decisive nicely into his 30s, and at membership stage gained a frankly ridiculous 14 league titles, 13 of which got here in Egypt.
As a supervisor, he has guided the nation to the 2026 World Cup, the place he’ll hope to turn into the primary Egyptian boss to information his workforce out of the group levels.
1
Mohamed Salah
Even with out a world title to his title, Mohamed Salah stays primary.
He’s Egypt’s most essential participant of the fashionable period and carried the nationwide workforce by a number of qualification campaigns nearly on his personal.
Salah led Egypt to the 2017 and 2021 AFCON finals and was decisive in getting Egypt to the 2018 World Cup, ending a 28-year absence.
Whereas Egypt didn’t win a trophy throughout his peak, his targets, assists and insane trophy haul on the elite membership stage make him the undisputed biggest of all time, with greater than 60 targets in over 100 caps.
