FIFA names Egypt’s Hamza Abdelkarim among seven U-17 World Cup rising stars

FIFA has highlighted Barcelona youngster Hamza Abdelkarim as one of seven emerging talents who have continued to make significant progress since starring at last year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.

The Egyptian forward has enjoyed a rapid rise over the past year, moving from youth football into the senior international setup while also earning a permanent move to Barcelona. His development has now attracted recognition from FIFA, which has included him in a list of young players making notable strides in their careers.

Abdelkarim’s inclusion comes despite the presence of more established young attackers such as Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, who have commanded much of the attention in recent months.

The 18-year-old has particularly impressed since joining Barcelona, initially arriving on loan in February before doing enough to convince the Catalan club to make his transfer permanent.

U-17 World Cup performance caught Barcelona’s eye

Abdelkarim’s performances for Egypt at the FIFA U-17 World Cup were central to Barcelona’s decision to pursue him.

The forward scored twice in four appearances at the tournament, showcasing the attacking qualities that eventually convinced the Blaugrana to bring him into their youth setup.

His adaptation to Barcelona was equally encouraging. Abdelkarim made nine appearances for the Juvenil A side and found the net six times, performances that strengthened the club’s belief that he could develop into a first-team option.

That progress ultimately led Barcelona to secure his permanent transfer after his initial loan spell.

FIFA has now recognized that trajectory by placing Abdelkarim alongside six other youngsters who have continued to rise since the tournament in Qatar.

Borussia Dortmund’s Samuele Inacio, Philadelphia Union’s Cavan Sullivan, Olympique Lyon’s Rémi Himbert, Melbourne City’s Mathew Baker, PSV Eindhoven’s Noah Fernandez and Cruzeiro’s Ze Lucas complete the list.

World Cup experience accelerates his rise

While his progress at Barcelona has been impressive, Abdelkarim’s most significant milestone to date came at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan selected the youngster for the tournament squad, giving him the opportunity to experience senior international football at the highest level only months after his U-17 World Cup campaign.

Abdelkarim went beyond simply making up the numbers in Egypt’s squad. He featured in four of the five matches played by the Pharaohs before their elimination in the Round of 16.

That experience has further accelerated his development and given him exposure that could prove valuable as he begins to push towards regular first-team football at Barcelona.

Barcelona opportunity beckons

After returning to Catalonia from the World Cup, Abdelkarim immediately provided another reminder of his attacking threat.

He scored twice in a training match against Birmingham City, adding to the positive impression he had already made during his time with the club.

His timing could also prove significant. Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has a clear opening for a centre-forward in his squad, potentially creating an opportunity for Abdelkarim to earn meaningful minutes with the senior team.

Although he remains at the beginning of his professional career, his rapid progression from Egypt’s youth ranks to Barcelona and the senior World Cup stage has positioned him as one of the club’s most intriguing young prospects.

FIFA’s recognition further underlines the momentum behind his development, with Abdelkarim now looking to turn his impressive rise into a breakthrough at Barcelona.