Mostafa Abdelraouf, known as “Zico” at Pyramids FC, arrives for the duel against Flamengo, at Intercontinental, as one of the highlights of the Egyptian team. At 23 years old, the midfielder draws attention for his refined technique, constancy on the field and also for his curious connection with a historical icon of the Rio club, of whom he is a declared admirer.
But who is the player? Where did he work? Is the name in honor of Zico? THE Sporting News show.
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Who is Mostafa Zico?
Mostafa Mohamed Zaki Abdelraouf, known as “Mostafa Ziko”, is a 28-year-old Egyptian attacking midfielder known for his creativity and technical quality at Pyramids FC. Trained at G. Shebin, he also played for Zed FC and Harras Hodoud before gaining space and prominence at his current club. Wearing the number 30 shirt, he received the nickname in reference to his refined style and admiration for the greatest idol in Flamengo’s history, who serves as an inspiration in his career.
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How does Mostafa Zico play?
Acting as an attacking midfielder, Ziko stands out for his constant presence in the area and his ability to decide games. His strong point is his direct participation in goals, something that recurs throughout the season. In 19 matches, he has seven goals and two assists, numbers that demonstrate his influence in the offensive sector and his good reading ability to attack decisive spaces.
In important matches, he usually appears: he scored in the Intercontinental Cup in the 3-1 victory over Auckland City and scored two goals in the 2-2 draw against Petrojet, in the last match before the World Cup.
Is Mostafa Zico named after Zico from Flamengo?
Zico is Mostafa Ziko’s greatest inspiration. The Pyramids player says he grew up listening to his father talk about the red-and-black idol and started reviewing the star’s moves on YouTube, adopting him as a role model on the field. The identification is such that he shows pride by carrying the nickname in honor of the historic number 10.
When asked about the possibility of exchanging shirts with Arrascaeta and, symbolically, wearing the number 10 immortalized by Zico, Mostafa did not hesitate: he said he would be very happy, praised the Uruguayan and highlighted that he follows him closely, reinforcing his respect for Flamengo’s Uruguayan.
