Hamza Abdelkarim, Barcelona's Egyptian Jewel and Mo Salah's Heir, Aims to Surprise Argentina

Eighteen-year-old Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim, already drawing comparisons to Mohamed Salah and nicknamed "the new Salah," has joined Barcelona in a move that could reach 6.5 million euros. The young talent, born in Cairo, spent his formative years at Al-Ahly before moving to Spain.

Abdelkarim made history at Al-Ahly, becoming the youngest player to represent the club in the 21st century at just 17 years and five days old. He quickly earned a call-up to Egypt's U-17 national team, where he scored crucial goals, including the one that secured their qualification for the U-17 World Cup. He captained the team at the tournament, notching two goals and an assist.

His senior national team debut came shortly before the current World Cup, where he became the first player in the tournament's history to participate without having played a senior club match, having only featured for youth teams. Barcelona secured his transfer, signing him until June 2029, the maximum allowed for players under 18.

In Egypt, Abdelkarim is viewed as Salah's successor, not just for their shared forward position but for the potential impact he could have on the national team in the coming years. While Salah is 34, Abdelkarim represents the future. He is described as a modern "9" who can drop deep to help build play and find space between the lines, while also possessing a surprising variety of finishing skills for his age. He is decisive in the final third and excels at attacking open spaces.