Ayman Hussein, the Iraqi national team and Al-Karma club striker, is one step away from reaching a historic number that has stood firm for four decades in Iraqi football records, registered in the name of the late legend Ahmed Radhi, who scored Iraq's only goal in their first World Cup participation in the 1986 Mexico edition.

Ayman Hussein, 30 years old, is experiencing his best technical and physical period in recent months, after leading the 'Lions of Mesopotamia' to secure a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, following his decisive second goal against Bolivia in the global playoff match, which ended with Iraq's 2-1 victory earlier this month.

The international striker confirmed his full readiness before the global event, after scoring 8 goals in the last 5 matches he played with the Iraqi national team and his team Al-Karma, ending a period of fluctuation and doubts that accompanied his career due to recurring injuries that kept him out of the field intermittently.

These numbers bring Ayman Hussein back to the forefront of Iraqi attack strongly, making him the first candidate to lead the front line in the World Cup, amidst public hopes that he will continue his habit of scoring and write his name alongside Ahmed Radhi as one of the Iraqi players who scored in the World Cup.

Iraqi coach Saleh Radhi, the brother of the late star Ahmed Radhi, believes that Ayman Hussein is capable of continuing to shine in the upcoming global finals, indicating that the Al-Karma striker possesses all the attributes of a goal-scoring forward.

Saleh Radhi said in a special statement: 'Ayman Hussein has the ability to perform outstandingly in the World Cup. He is a striker who knows the way to the goal well and can score from half-chances, although the task will not be easy given the strength of the teams we will face in the group.'

He added: 'Ayman is a great player and has contributed a lot to Iraqi football over the past years. The goal he scored against Bolivia may not be measured by the same standards as World Cup matches, but it proves that the player has an attacking personality and a high scoring sense in crucial moments. I believe his leadership personality will be an influential factor with the Lions of Mesopotamia in the World Cup.'

Saleh Radhi expressed his optimism about Ayman Hussein's ability to score in the World Cup, saying: 'My expectations are that Ayman is capable of scoring goals in the finals, and this will give him the opportunity to get closer to my late brother Ahmed Radhi's achievement in the global tournament. If that happens, it will be a new achievement added to the player's record and to the history of Iraqi football, which is currently experiencing an excellent period.'

He concluded: 'Iraq's group in the World Cup is very difficult for sure, but our team has the capabilities to deliver an honorable performance and score more than one goal even against the big teams. This is very important to prove our technical presence in the world's largest football event.'