Zico: From Egypt's Outsider to World Cup Star

The story of Egyptian forward Zico has transformed into one of the standout success stories of the 2026 World Cup, having been overlooked by coach Hossam Hassan just months before the tournament. An injury to Islam Issa during the March camp opened the door for his inclusion in the squad.

Zico seized the opportunity brilliantly, scoring the winning goal in a friendly against Russia, earning the trust of the coaching staff. He then started in the friendly against Brazil, with Mohamed Salah rested, and managed to net Egypt's only goal, making him the scorer in the last two preparatory matches before the World Cup.

In the World Cup, Zico started in the first match due to delays in registering Haitham Hassan, delivering a solid performance that reinforced the coach's confidence in him, securing his place in the starting lineup for the second match. Despite calls for his substitution at halftime, Hossam Hassan kept him on, and Zico responded by scoring one goal and assisting another in just 20 minutes, becoming the first player in Egypt's history to score and assist in a single World Cup match.

Zico continued to impress throughout the tournament, starting in five consecutive matches, although a goal against Argentina was ruled out before he scored again just eight minutes later. His spontaneous remarks after the match garnered widespread attention, propelling his name into headlines and making his story one of the most inspiring narratives of Egypt's journey in the World Cup.