Mohamed Barakat
A magician with the ball at his feet, he orchestrated Al Ahly's domestic dominance and continental glory as their charismatic midfield conductor.
Born 1976 (age 50)·Egyptian footballer·Birthday: November 20·Generation X
Biography
Mohamed Barakat was the creative sparkplug for one of Africa's greatest football dynasties. Joining Al Ahly in 2004, the attacking midfielder quickly became the team's heartbeat, a player known for his vision, technical dribbling, and a knack for spectacular goals. His arrival coincided with a period of unprecedented success for the Cairo giants. Barakat's ingenuity in the final third was instrumental in Al Ahly's relentless haul of Egyptian Premier League titles and their back-to-back CAF Champions League triumphs in 2005 and 2006. While his international career with Egypt was sometimes sporadic, his club legacy is untouchable. Fans adored his flair and celebratory backflips, symbols of the joy and supremacy he brought to the pitch. Retiring in 2012, he remains a revered figure, remembered as the artistic force behind a golden era for the Red Devils.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Mohamed was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mohamed Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Mohamed's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the CAF Champions League twice with Al Ahly in 2005 and 2006.
- Helped Al Ahly secure five Egyptian Premier League titles during his tenure from 2004 to 2012.
- Was named the African-based African Footballer of the Year in 2005.
Did You Know?
He was famous for performing backflips as a goal celebration.
Before his storied career at Al Ahly, he played for Ismaili, one of their major domestic rivals.
His full name includes 'Bastamy', a reference to his family's origin in the city of Bastam.
“I play for Al Ahly, and that means you play for every Egyptian.”
