Mohamed Aboutrika belonged to that elite class. He saw the game differently, as if it unfolded in slow motion just for him. He didn’t need the glamour of Europe to prove his greatness; he made Africa his canvas, and the ball was his brush.
Quotes on the player 🗣🗣
🗣Jay-Jay Okocha🇳🇬 : "Aboutrika is number one in Africa. Maybe he plays in Egypt while thousands of Africans play in Europe, but what he achieved deserves to be proud."
🗣Didier Drogba🇨🇮: "Most underrated African legend."
🗣 José Mourinho🇵🇹: "He is a skilled player and everyone knows what he achieved with the Egyptian national team and Al-Ahly club."
🗣Xavi Hernandez🇪🇸: "Mohamed Aboutrika is a very special player. I think he is the best Arab player I have seen."
🗣 Patrice Motsepe🇿🇦 : "There was a player in Al Ahly named Mohamed Aboutrika, even me being a Sundowns fan, we were all cheering for Mohamed Aboutrika.
🗣Mohamed Salah🇪🇬 : "As a youngster, I always tried to take advantage of Aboutrika."
Player Profile 📋
Mohamed Aboutrika was the 2008 AFCON Final Man of the Match. He was nominated for the IFFHS World's Most Popular Footballer in 2007 and 2008. He was in the Goal 50 in 2009, 2013, IFFHS Legends in 2016 and 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Best XI. He has an Egyptian National Honour. pic.twitter.com/vQDLFEgehP
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) March 13, 2021
👉Position: Attacking Midfielder \
👉Preferred Foot: Both
👉Height: 1.83m
👉Born: Giza, Egypt
👉Age: 46
What Makes Him Special?✨⚽
🔮 Football IQ – He wasn’t the fastest or the strongest, but he was always two steps ahead. His ability to read the game and dictate play was nothing short of genius.
🎨 Silk-Touch Dribbling – He didn’t need fancy tricks; his first touch alone could take defenders out of the game. His dribbling was more about intelligence than flair.
🎯 Killer Final Ball – Whether it was a perfectly weighted through-ball or a delicate chip over the top, Aboutrika could split defenses like a surgeon.
💎 Big-Game Mentality – He thrived when the pressure was suffocating. If there was a crucial final, you could bet on Aboutrika to deliver.
🏹 Goal-Scoring Playmaker – Not just a creator, he was also a deadly finisher. Whether from open play or set pieces, he had a knack for scoring at the right time.
Career Achievements 🏆
🏆CAF Super Cup 4x – 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013
🏆CAF Champions League – 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013
🏆Egypt Cup – 2006, 2007.
🏆Egyptian Super Cup – 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
🏆African Inter-Club Player of the Year: 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013
🏆Africa Cup of Nations Dream Team: 2006, 2008
🏆CAF Team of the Year: 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013
🏆BBC African Footballer of the Year: 2008
🏆FIFA Club World Cup Top Goalscorer: 2006
🏆Egyptian Premier League Top Goalscorer: 2005–06
🏆IFFHS Legends: 2016
🏆Egyptian Premier League – 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11.
Conclusion🇳🇬⚽✨🇩🇰
🎙️ Marmoush: “Aboutrika is my role model; I wear the number 22 for the national team because of him.” 👕🇪🇬 pic.twitter.com/9yhe6tBC2O
— Onze Masr 🇪🇬🇬🇧 (@Onzemasr_EN) February 15, 2025
Mohamed Aboutrika didn’t need to chase European stardom to be remembered. He stayed in Egypt, at Al Ahly, and built a legacy that even those in the Champions League couldn’t ignore. His name is spoken with the same reverence as Africa’s greatest—Drogba, Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Essien, J.J Okocha—because greatness isn’t about where you play, but how you play. He was football’s poet, an artist who painted every match with vision and intelligence.
He wasn’t just a footballer; he was a reminder that magic still exists in the game. And for those who saw him play, Mohamed Aboutrika will forever be football’s Magician of Cairo.
