15 Greatest Egypt Players in Football History [Ranked]

Egypt is a nation defined by its history, monuments, and cultural significance. Alexandria, the country’s second-largest city, situated on the western edge of the Nile River delta, was home to one of the ancient world’s largest and most vital libraries. A center of knowledge and power, it is unsurprising that Egypt’s imperial influence extended into many areas of modern life.

For this North African country, it is evident that their systematic approach and pursuit of knowledge have filtered down to football—as Egypt stands out as one of the continent’s powerhouses of skill. Egypt boasts the oldest national football team in Africa and proudly holds a record seven Africa Cup of Nations titles. The Pharaohs, as they are fittingly known, have featured in the World Cup multiple times and were the first-ever team from Africa and the Middle East to achieve such a feat.

Over the years, the country has produced legendary and gifted players who have represented them, including current Liverpool star Mohamed Salah. But where does he rank among the 15 greatest Egyptian footballers in history?

Here are our selections for the finest Morocco players in world football history, featuring Hakimi, Hadji, and El-Arabi.

15 Omar Marmoush

Career span: 2016-Present

During his tenure in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt, Omar Marmoush was regarded as one of the top strikers globally. His tally of 15 goals and 10 assists in the first half of the 2024/2025 season drew the interest of Manchester City, who secured his services for £59 million.

Although playing time with City has been more limited than in Germany, the Cairo-born forward has netted some impressive goals since his arrival. He represents his country alongside Mohamed Salah and offers Egyptian fans much excitement for the future, hoping his talent can guide the nation to its first AFCON title since 2010.

14 Ahmed Elmohamady

Career span: 2004-2021

A two-time CAF Africa Cup of Nations winner (2008, 2010), where he also featured in a third final in 2017, Ahmed Elmohamady is placed 11th in our rankings. Though he began his career as a centre-forward, he truly emerged as a right-back.

After moving from Egyptian club ENPPI to Sunderland on loan in 2010, the Pharaohs international spent over a decade playing in the Premier League and Championship, experiencing both promotions and relegations during his time in England. In this European journey, he also played for Hull City and Aston Villa, retiring in 2021 before becoming one of the club’s ambassadors.

Ahmed Elmohamady's international career

Egypt caps

Egypt goals

Egypt assists

13 Mohamed Diab Al-Attar

Career span: 1944-1958

Mohamed Diab Al-Attar, also known as Ad-Diba, is among the greatest African players of all time. The attacking leader of Al-Ittihad Alexandria Club, he made history as the top scorer in the inaugural season of the Egyptian Premier League in 1948.

He spent his entire playing career with the club before swapping his football boots for a referee’s whistle in 1958, a post-career that spanned some twenty years. Internationally, he was part of the Egyptian team that won the 1957 African Cup of Nations, where he also claimed the Golden Shoe award.

Mohamed Diab Al-Attar's international career

Egypt caps

Egypt goals

Egypt assists

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12 Mahmoud Al-Gohary

Career span: 1955-1961

Mahmoud Al-Gohary is remembered as the first person in history to win the African Cup of Nations as both a player and a coach. His first success came in 1959, two years after Egypt’s initial triumph and nearly 40 years before he lifted the prestigious trophy as a manager.

Unfortunately, his playing career was shorter than anticipated due to knee problems that cut short what many believed was a promising journey. After just six years with Al Ahly, where he won numerous titles including five championships, he ultimately decided to retire.

Mahmoud Al-Gohary's international career

Egypt caps

Egypt goals

Egypt assists

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11 Abdulrahman Fawzi

Career span: 1928-1947

It would have been challenging to compile this list without including the first African goalscorer in World Cup history. Abdulrahman Fawzi, a legend of Egyptian national football whose career with Al-Masry and Zamalek is still remembered, made history at the 1934 World Cup.

At that tournament, he became not only the first player from the continent to score but also the first to net twice. This remarkable feat was achieved against Hungary, who might have conceded a third goal had Fawzi’s effort not been ruled out for a highly questionable offside call.

Abdulrahman Fawzi's international career

Egypt caps

Egypt goals

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10 Mohamed Zidan

Career span: 1999-2015

Here is a true cult striker. Mohamed Zidan was an excellent forward for both club and country, yet it’s his domestic career that earns him a spot. He moved through eight different teams, starting when he left Egypt for Denmark as a young player. Zidan developed a knack for finishing, along with positional awareness and fine dribbling, progressing from Akademisk Boldklub to FC Midtjylland before his scoring exploits led him to the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen.

Zidan and the Bundesliga were a perfect match, and he enjoyed an eight-year stint that yielded a DFL-Ligapokal in 2006 with Bremen and back-to-back league titles with Borussia Dortmund in 2010/11 and 2011/12. Between those honors, Zidan had two impressive spells at Mainz with 22 goals in 41 games, before a third saw him score seven goals in 12.

Perhaps a precursor to the German’s famous connection with another Egyptian forward, it’s no surprise that Jurgen Klopp held the second striker in high regard. Under Klopp’s guidance, Zidan scored 36 goals and provided 14 assists in 118 games across both Mainz and Dortmund.

Internationally, the striker, known for his colorful hair—when not clean-shaven—scored 13 goals in 44 games and could have achieved more if not for conflicts within the national team setup. Still, he won two Afcon titles with his country and played a key role, scoring the second goal in the semi-finals of the 2010 edition as Egypt thrashed Algeria 4-0.

Mohamed Zidan's international career

Egypt caps

Egypt goals

Egypt assists

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9 Hassan El-Shazly

Career span: 1959-1978

Hassan El-Shazly deserves recognition in this list as a forerunner to many excellent Egyptians who followed. A loyal servant of Tersana, where he won just one Egyptian Premier League and two league cups, El-Shazly was described as a devastating shooter, lethal with both feet. The Giza native became the Africa Cup of Nations’ all-time top Egyptian scorer, and domestically, he was the Egyptian Premier League top scorer four times, which helped him become the division’s all-time top scorer with 173 goals.

Internationally, El-Shazly never won a Cup of Nations, but by finishing third three times, he still left his mark on the tournament. He was the top scorer with six goals at the 1963 Afcon and scored five goals in the 1970 edition, before netting his 12th goal in the competition four years later, making him Egypt’s all-time top scorer at the tournament.

A winner’s medal did come at the 1965 Arab Games, where he was the tournament’s top scorer with nine goals. In total, he played 62 international games and scored 49 goals for his country.

Hassan El-Shazly 's international career

Egypt caps

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8 Mahmoud El Khatib

Career span: 1972-1988

Nicknamed Bibo, El Khatib is the second forefather of Egyptian football on this list. He was an icon during the 70s and 80s, honored as African Footballer of the Year in 1983, before being named Arab Sportsman of the 20th century. He was recognized by IFFHS as the joint 11th-best African player of the last century and by CAF in 2007 as the second greatest.

A hugely dominant figure with Al Ahly, El Khatib won nearly a dozen domestic titles with the Cairo giants and crucially helped build the club’s continental reputation, playing a role in their CAF Champions League triumphs in 1982 and 1987.

El Khatib won the continental crown with Egypt in 1986 and also participated in the Olympic Games two years earlier. After retiring, he pursued a sports management career before being elected to Al Ahly’s board. In 2004, he became vice-president of Al Ahly, and was elected president in 2017. A fine finisher with an unrelenting engine, El Khatib was also the Egyptian League’s top scorer twice.

Mahmoud El Khatib 's international career

Egypt caps

Egpyt goals

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7 Mohamed Barakat

Career Span: 1995-2013

A right-footed playmaker, Mohamed Barakat typically played as a right-winger or attacking midfielder for Al Ahly and Egypt. In his prime, the elegant Barakat was considered by many to be one of the most talented players in Africa. His trademarks were surging runs from midfield that often disrupted opposing defenses, along with a box-to-box work ethic that made him a key figure in both defense and attack.

For Al Ahly, Barakat scored 41 goals in 149 league games and became a feared member of Egypt’s 'Bermuda Triangle', a front three consisting of Barakat, Mohamed Aboutrika, and Emad Moteab.

Barakat was at his peak in the mid-2000s. He helped his club win the CAF Champions League in 2005 and 2006, as well as Egypt’s fifth Afcon that same year on home soil. In total, Barakat achieved an impressive 25 honors with Al Ahly, including seven Egyptian Premier League titles.

Individually, 2005 was a standout year for Barakat, as he won the BBC African Footballer of the Year award ahead of Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o and Nigeria’s Obafemi Martins.

Mohamed Barakat's international career

Egypt caps

Egpyt goals

Egypt assists

6 Wael Gomaa

Career Span: 1993-2008

So far, forward-thinking players have dominated this list. However, it must be noted that Egypt can also produce excellent defenders. Regarded as one of the best African defenders of all time, Wael Gomaa was known for his passing accuracy and ability to score from corners and free-kicks. Although not the tallest center-back at 6ft, Gomaa was an athletic presence with great jumping ability, allowing him to score important headers—evidenced by his goal in the 2008 CAF Champions League final against Cameroon’s Cotonsport Garoua.

Gomaa began his career with Ghazl El Mahalla, before his raw talent caught the attention of Al Ahly, whom Mahalla faced in the 2001 Egyptian Cup final. After the move, Gomaa made 364 appearances and steadily established himself as Al Ahly’s best defender. With the Cairo club, he won 26 honors.

For the national team, Gomaa made his debut in 2001 and developed into a pivotal part of a three-time Afcon-winning side. In the 2008 and 2010 tournaments, he played every game and consistently rose to the occasion to defend against top European league players such as Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o.

Wael Gomaa's international career

Egypt caps

114

Egpyt goals

Egypt clean sheets

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