Egypt players – Egypt’s World Cup squad includes Trézéguet and Ziko—nicknames that started in training ground logic and family stories, then stuck for years. In at least two cases, teammates and relatives say the names were given because of resemblance, playing style, or how
Egypt’s World Cup squad keeps drawing attention, not just for how it plays—but for what its players are called.
In the 2026 World Cup roster of Hossam Hassan. Mahmoud Hassan. Trézéguet. Nabil Emad Dunga. and Mostafa Zaki Abdelraouf (Ziko). some names don’t match the surnames fans know from European football. Trézéguet and Dunga echo legends David Trézéguet and Carlos Caetano Bledorn (Dunga). Ziko points to Arthur Antunes Coimbra (Zico). None of the Egyptian stars officially carry those surnames in their names; the nicknames are presented as tribute.
The origin story behind ‘Trézéguet’ comes from Mahmoud Hassan’s coach, Badr Ragab. He revealed that the nickname was his idea and traced it back to the player’s early days.
“From his first days… I noticed (Hassan’s) resemblance to Trézéguet, both in appearance and playing style… He was strong in the air and scored goals in a similar way, so I gave him the name. I never imagined it would stay with him for so long,” Ragab said.
That same kind of nickname logic—picked because of how someone resembles a famous player—also appears in the way ‘Dunga’ arrived with Nabil Emad Dunga.
Then there is ‘Ziko,’ which carries a different kind of origin: not a coach’s comparison, but a family explanation. Mostafa Zaki’s brother said the nickname emerged because of him, telling AFP that he used to be called ‘Ziko’ while playing professional soccer.
“When Mostafa started playing, coaches called him ‘little Zico’ because he was my younger brother,” he said.
Mostafa Zaki is 29 years old, and he keeps the nickname. He plays at Pyramids FC and Egypt, and the name’s staying power now mirrors the Brazilian legend it references.
Even beyond the national team, nicknames linked to football history continue to pop up. Only Mahmoud Trézéguet. Mostafa Ziko. and Nabil Emad Dunga are in the Egyptian national team from this broader group—but the Egyptian League has its own wave of references. including names that recall Pavel Nedvěd and David Beckham.
Karim Walid, known as Karim Nedved, is one of the stars of Cleopatra FC in the Egyptian Premier League. He played for Egypt U-23.
The pattern of naming through football influence also appears in how some of these nicknames were said to be formed. As happened with Mahmoud Hassan, the same coach who gave the nickname “Trézéguet” supposedly gave him the nickname at the Al-Ahly academy.
Similarly, Ahmed Ramadan from Al-Ahly plays under the nickname David Beckham.
Egypt World Cup nicknames Trézéguet nickname Ziko nickname Nabil Emad Dunga Mahmoud Hassan Hossam Hassan Mostafa Zaki Abdelraouf Badr Ragab Pyramids FC Cleopatra FC Al-Ahly
So they’re basically just stealing famous soccer names? Kinda weird tbh.
I read “Ziko” and immediately thought of like… an app or something. But apparently it’s from a Brazil guy? Makes sense I guess. Nicknames stick when people act like you’re the next legend.
Wait so Dunga is from a nickname too? I thought that was just his real surname like Dunga the coach or whatever. If it’s all resemblance and family stories then why do they even let it on official rosters, seems misleading.
This article sounds like half soccer history and half soap opera. Like “strong in the air” = Trézéguet?? So if someone scores close to a legend they just get named after them forever? And Ziko was because he was the younger brother? Idk I’m confused but also kinda love it. Reminds me how everyone in my town had dumb nickname origins too, except ours weren’t world cup related.