Mostafa Zico, wey dem know as Zico, don make im name for FIFA World Cup 2026 for USA. Di 29-year-old Egyptian striker bin score and assist for group stage win against New Zealand, wey make am di first Egyptian to do dat for World Cup.
Zico, wey im full name na Mostafa Mohamed Zaky Abdelraouf, bin get im nickname from im uncle wey love di Brazilian legend Zico. Im brother Abdelraouf bin give up im own football dreams to support Mostafa afta dia papa die wen Mostafa be 14.
“After di death of our papa, we shoulder our responsibilities by working together. Den I decide to stop football so I could focus on Mostafa’s career,” Abdelraouf tell AFP. “Later we close di shop so we could devote ourselves entirely to im career.”
Mostafa Zico start im career for lower divisions like Gomhoriat Shebin and Haras El Hodoud before im join ZED FC for 2023. Im bin don become one of di best wingers for Egyptian Premier League, wey make Pyramids FC sign am for 2025.
For im first season wit Pyramids, Zico win three trophies: Egypt Cup, CAF Super Cup, and FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup. Dis success help am get call-up for Egypt national team for May 2026 under coach Hossam Hassan.
Zico make im senior debut for friendly on May 28, 2026, and later feature for World Cup. Im bin score against Russia and Brazil for friendlies before di tournament.
After di New Zealand match, Zico dedicate di victory to im mama and broda. “I would love our papa to still dey alive to witness wetin I accomplish, but I know im go dey proud of us,” im tok.
Di Brazilian Zico, wey im name sake, bin congratulate am via video afta im goal against Brazil. Di Egyptian Zico now dey hope to continue im form for last-32 match against Australia for Dallas.
