FIFA Highlights Hamza Abdel Karim Among Rising Talents

Hamza Abdel Karim, the young striker of FC Barcelona, has received new acclaim after FIFA highlighted his rapid development, placing him on a list of seven young talents who shone at the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar and are continuing their steps in professional football.

According to Spanish newspaper "Sport", Hamza, born in Cairo in 2008, has transitioned in just a few months from playing with Barcelona's youth team to training with the first team, while also representing Egypt in the 2026 World Cup, becoming one of the standout players during the preparation period under Hans Flick.

Hamza scored two goals in four matches with the Egypt U17 team at the World Cup in Qatar, before moving to Barcelona on loan last February. He needed just nine matches with the youth team to net six goals, and then he was called up by Hossam Hassan to participate in the 2026 World Cup, where he played four out of five matches with the team that reached the Round of 16.

While with the Egypt national team at the World Cup, Barcelona activated the purchase option for Hamza, initially valued at €1.5 million and potentially rising to €6.5 million based on variables. After the tournament, the player returned to Barcelona to join the first team's preparation under Flick.

Hamza continued to attract attention after scoring two goals in 62 minutes during the friendly match against Birmingham City. He showcased his ability to move within the penalty area, exploit spaces, and finish attacks, prompting Flick to praise his humility, character, and knack for appearing in the right situations for a striker.

Hamza's standout performances arrive at a critical juncture for Barcelona, following the departure of Robert Lewandowski and the ongoing search for a central striker, with Julián Álvarez remaining among the options and Ferran Torres nearing an exit. Despite his natural progression being with the B team, his level during the pre-season has kept him in the first team's training sessions for now.