After catching Barcelona’s attention… is Hamza Abdel Karim taking his first steps into the world of cinema?
A social media rumor linked young Al Ahly striker Hamza Abdelkarim to a child actor in an old Egyptian film, before the claim was dismissed. Meanwhile, European clubs have begun monitoring the emerging talent closely.
A social media wave recently suggested that Al Ahly’s young striker Hamza Abdelkarim had started his life as a child actor, claiming he was the boy who appeared alongside actor Ahmed Helmy in the film “Zaki Shan.” The rumor was quickly debunked, as Hamza was born in 2008, three years after the movie’s release in 2005. The child in the film was actor Nihad Nour, born in 1997.
In parallel with the viral rumor, European interest in the young talent continues to grow. A source inside Al Ahly revealed that Hamza has signed with a sports marketing agency and has already received trial invitations from Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon, in addition to a previous trial offer from Bayern Munich. The club is reportedly open to allowing him to gain international exposure.
Reports have also suggested that Barcelona has taken concrete steps to follow the player, with a well-known sports reporter confirming the club’s formal interest.
Hamza’s rise within Al Ahly’s youth sector has been rapid. He began his football journey in Malaysia due to his father’s work, then returned to Egypt where he passed trials at ZED FC before joining Al Ahly in 2020. Under former coach Marcel Koller, he made his senior debut against Petrojet in February 2025, later appearing in the CAF Champions League against JS Kabylie.
His international performances have been equally impressive, helping Egypt’s U-17 national team win the North African Championship by scoring three goals and earning the Best Player Award. In the Africa Championship, he contributed four goal involvements, playing a key role in Egypt’s qualification for the U-17 World Cup.
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