FC Barcelona officially commented on the debut of Egyptian professional Hamza Abdel Karim with Hans Flick's squad in the Spanish La Liga football championship on Monday evening.
The "Camp Nou" stadium hosted the match between Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano in the third round of the 2026/27 La Liga season.
Barcelona managed to defeat Rayo Vallecano by five goals to two, with Hamza Abdel Karim coming on as a substitute for Raphinha in the 85th minute.
Barcelona stated on its official website: "Another name added to the list, after leaving a strong impression during the pre-season period, where he scored 4 goals to become the team's top scorer. Hamza Abdel Karim will remember August 31, 2026, and the Rayo Vallecano match, as it marked the day he made his official debut with FC Barcelona's first team."
Read also... Video | Hamza Abdel Karim celebrates his La Liga debut with Barcelona
It added: "The young Egyptian striker reaped the fruits of his efforts during the pre-season and training sessions, entering as a substitute for Raphinha in the final minutes. He was on the pitch when Barcelona scored their fifth and final goal, securing another victory for the team this season."
It continued: "Hamza Abdel Karim, who joined Barcelona on loan last season before becoming a key player at the club that summer, enjoyed a bustling few months. He was called up to participate in the World Cup despite having only played for the youth national team, featuring in several matches."
It further noted: "After a short break, Abdel Karim joined Barcelona's first team for the new season's preparations and scored 4 goals before playing his first official minutes."
It concluded: "Hamza Abdel Karim has become the first Egyptian player to play for Barcelona, and the third Egyptian to play in La Liga throughout history, following Ahmed Hossam Mido, who played for Celta Vigo, and Haitham Hassan with Real Oviedo."