Famous Egyptian Sportspersons

Egyptian professional footballer Mohamed Salah is considered one of the best players in the world. Known for his finishing, dribbling, and speed, he plays for the Premier League club Liverpool and the Egyptian national team. He has been named the CAF African Footballer of the Year twice. His fans and the press have nicknamed him "The Pharaoh."

Mohamed Aboutrika is an Egyptian former footballer who helped his national team win the 2006 African Cup of Nations. In the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, he played a key role in Egypt's success by scoring the winning goal in the finals. A controversial figure, Aboutrika's association with the Muslim Brotherhood has earned him a place in a terror list.

Mohamed El Nenny is an Egyptian football player best known for representing popular teams like Arsenal Football Club where he won the 2016–17 FA Cup. He is also an important member of the Egypt national team, having represented his country in the 2018 FIFA World Cup as well as the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017, 2019, and 2021.

Ahmed Hossam is an Egyptian former football player who scored 20 goals for Egypt in 51 games. He contributed immensely to Egypt's success, winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2006. He also played for popular clubs like Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax before announcing his retirement in 2013. Ahmed Hossam is currently working as a manager.     

Mohamed Zidan is an Egyptian former football player who helped his national team win the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations in 2008 and 2010. Apart from his national team, which he represented from 2005 to 2012, Mohamed Zidan also played for popular clubs like Werder Bremen, Mainz 05, Hamburger SV, and Borussia Dortmund. 

Ahmed Elmohamady is an Egyptian football player who has played for popular clubs like Hull City and Aston Villa. An important player for the national team, Ahmed Elmohamady was part of the squads that emerged victorious at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2008 and 2010.

Ramadan Sobhi is an Egyptian footballer who has played for popular clubs and the national team. He gained national prominence after winning the Egyptian Premier League titles for Al Ahly during the 2013–14, 2015–16, 2018–19, and 2019–20 seasons. In 2020, he made headlines when he moved to Pyramids FC which shocked Al Ahly's board and fans.

Ahmed Hassan Mahgoub is an Egyptian footballer who plays for the Egypt national team. Hassan was part of the national squad that won the runners-up trophy at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Hassan has also played for popular clubs like Braga and Olympiacos, helping the latter win the Super League Greece during the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons.

Shikabala is an Egyptian football player best known for his association with the Egyptian club Zamalek where he is regarded as a legend! Counted among the most talented players in Egypt, Shikabala helped his national team win the prestigious African Cup of Nations in 2010.

Amr Warda is an Egyptian football player who has been representing the Egypt national team since 2015. He has also played for popular clubs like Al Ahly, winning the Egyptian Premier League for the 2013–14 season with the Cairo-based club.

Ahmed Hassan is an Egyptian former football player who earned 184 caps for the Egypt national team which makes him the third-most capped international male football player in the history of the game. Counted among the best footballers in African football history, Ahmed Hassan helped his national team win the African Cup of Nations in 1998, 2006, 2008, and 2010.

Amr Zaki is an Egyptian former football player who played for several clubs across Egypt, England, Russia, Turkey, and Kuwait. He scored 30 goals in 63 appearances for his national team and helped Egypt win the prestigious African Nations Cup in 2006 and 2008.   

Sam Morsy is a football player and the current captain of the English club, Ipswich Town. Morsy has also been representing the Egypt national team since 2016. Although he was born in England, Sam Morsy chose to represent Egypt in international events as his father is Egyptian.

Hossam Hassan is an Egyptian former football player who competed in seven Africa Cup of Nations events out of which he won three. A prolific goalscorer, Hassan scored 83 goals in 176 games for Egypt; he is the current all-time top scorer for his country. Hossam Hassan is counted among the best players in the history of African football.

Ahmed Fathy is an Egyptian football player who has represented popular clubs like Sheffield United and Al Ahly. He has also been an important player for Egypt since 2002 and has won more than 100 caps for his country. Ahmed Fathy has helped Egypt win important tournaments like Africa Cup of Nations and Nile Basin Tournament.

Ramy Ashour is a retired squash player who represented Egypt at several World Championships. Considered one of the best players in the history of squash, Ashour won three gold medals at World Championships and three gold medals at World Team Championships. Renowned for his unique style, Ramy Ashour is rated highly by several squash pundits and former players. 

Omar Gaber is an Egyptian football player who helped his national team win the runner-up trophy of the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations in 2017. He has also played for popular clubs like Zamalek with which he won the Egypt Cup on three occasions and Egyptian Premier League once.

Hossam Ghaly is a Egyptian former football player who earned 70 caps for Egypt between 2002 and 2016. He is best known for his association with the popular club Al Ahly with which he won the Egyptian Premier League on five occasions. He also won the Egypt Cup and Egyptian Super Cup thrice each between 2000 and 2017.

Although he had been part of the Olympic silver-winning Czechoslovakian ice hockey team, Jaroslav Drobny gained more fame as a tennis player. He achieved the rare feat of having played Wimbledon for four different countries: Czechoslovakia, Bohemia-Moravia, Egypt, and, Britain. He also won 130 singles titles throughout his career.

Essam El-Hadary is an Egyptian former football player who played as a goalkeeper. One of the most decorated players in the history of Egyptian football, El Hadary won the Egyptian Premier League titles on eight occasions. During his illustrious career, he also won the Egyptian Super Cups, Egypt Cups, and CAF Champions League titles.

Ali Gabr is an Egyptian football player who plays for the Egyptian national team. In 2017, he helped his national team win the runner-up trophy of the Africa Cup of Nations. Gabr is also known for his association with Zamalek with which he won the 2014–15 Egyptian Premier League, 2014–15 and 2015–16 Egypt Cup, and the 2016 Egyptian Super Cup.

Mayar Sherif is an Egyptian professional tennis player who made history in 2020 when she became the first female player from Egypt to feature in a main draw of a Grand Slam by participating in French Open. She made headlines in 2021 when she became the first Egyptian female player to win a Grand Slam main-draw match at Australian Open.

Hassan Shehata is an Egyptian retired football player and manager. He is best known for his achievements as a manager; he led Egypt to three African Cup of Nations titles, becoming the first coach to win three successive titles. Hassan Shehata is also one of two coaches to lead his side to three Africa Cup titles.

Ali Zein is an Egyptian professional handball player who plays for the Egyptian national team. He helped his national team win the 2016 and 2020 African Handball Nations Championship titles. At the 2018 African Championship, where his team finished second, Ali Zein was adjudged Best Player of the tournament. Ali Zein has also played for popular clubs like Al Ahly.

Ahmed El-Awady is an Egyptian retired handball player. He was part of the national handball team that took part in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. After his retirement, Ahmed El-Awady started working as an Uber driver in North Carolina, USA.

Mahmoud Reda was an Egyptian choreographer and dancer. He is best remembered for co-founding the famous Reda Troupe, which consists of dancers and musicians. Some of his famous students include Dina Tala'at Sayed Muhammad, Randa Kamel, Mohamed Ghareb, and Keti Sharif. Mahmoud Reda was also a gymnast and competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, representing Egypt. 

Ahmed El-Ahmar is an Egyptian professional handball player who plays for the Egyptian national team as well as for popular clubs like Zamalek Handball Club and El Jaish Handball Team. Ahmed El-Ahmar is a successful player, having won seven Egyptian Handball League titles, five Egyptian Handball Cups, and four African Men's Handball Championship titles in his illustrious career so far.

Apart from being a talented fencer, who represented Egypt in Olympics twice, Ahmed Hassanein had also held important political posts under King Fuad I and was a tutor to his son, Farouk I. An Oxford alumnus, he also went on expeditions in the Libyan desert and discovered an unknown oasis.

Bassem Amin is an Egyptian professional chess player who received the prestigious Grandmaster (GM) title in 2006. He has won several tournaments and is the highest ranked player in Africa. Having graduated from the Tanta University, Bassem Amin is only one of five medical doctors to have achieved the chess grandmaster title. 

Yahia Omar is an Egyptian professional handball player. He was part of the Egyptian national team that won the silver medal at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics. He has also represented the senior team at the 2017, 2019, and 2021 IHF Men's Handball World Championship. Yahia Omar has also played for popular clubs like Gezira Sporting Club and Telekom Veszprém.

Assem Marei is an Egyptian basketball player currently affiliated with Changwon LG Sakers of the Korean Basketball League (KBL). The son of two former professional basketball players, he was introduced to the sport early on. He joined the national team at the age of 16 and then proceeded to join the Egyptian side Zamalek SC. 

Ahmed Hesham is an Egyptian professional handball player. He achieved national prominence in 2019 when he won the MVP award at the Men's Youth World Handball Championship. He also represented his country at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Ahmed Hesham also plays for the French handball club USAM Nîmes Gard.

Ashraf Helmy is an Egyptian professional table tennis player best known for representing his country at the 1988, 1992, and 2000 Olympics. He is also known as the father of Yousra Helmy, who competed in the women's team table tennis event at the 2016 Olympics. She also represented Egypt at the 2020 Olympics.

Yehia El-Deraa is an Egyptian handball player who represented the nation at the World Men's Handball Championship in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021. He also participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Currently, he is associated with Zamalek SC and also plays for the Egyptian national team. He won the gold medal at the 2020 African Men's Handball Championship. 

Lebanese art collector, politician, businessman and sportsman Henri Philippe Pharaoun, who became the national tennis champion of Lebanon, is mostly remembered for the significant role he played in securing Lebanon's independence from France. He designed the Lebanese flag, served in the Lebanese Parliament and as the Lebanese foreign minister. As a Mediterraneanist, he supported peaceful coexistence between Christians and the Muslims.   

Hassan Moustafa is an Egyptian former handball player who played for the Egyptian national team as well as the popular Al-Ahly Club. After retiring, he became an influential sports administrator, serving as the Egyptian Handball Federation's president from 1984 to 1992 and again from 1996 to 2008. In 2000, Hassan Moustafa started serving as the International Handball Federation's president.

Ahmed Zaher is an Egyptian trap shooter. He has been trap-shooting since 2006. In 2012, he competed in the trap event at the Summer Olympics and was placed 22nd in the qualification round. He also competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the men's trap event. He is a site architect by profession. 

Mohamed El-Tayar is an Egyptian professional handball player who plays for the Egyptian national team as well as the popular Al Ahly Handball Club. He was part of the national team that won the silver medal at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China. Mohamed El-Tayar has also represented Egypt in the 2019 and 2021 World Men's Handball Championship.  

Mounir Sabet is an Egyptian sports official and former sport shooter who was part of the national shooting team in 1965. From 1990 to 1993, he served as the Egyptian Olympic Committee's president. He was elected again in 1996 and served until 2009. From 1998 to 2016, Mounir Sabet was also one of the members of the International Olympic Committee.

Samir Sabry is an Egyptian retired football player best known for his participation at the 2006 African Cup of Nations as part of the Egyptian national football team. Apart from football, Samir Sabry also played futsal and represented his country at the 2000 and 2004 Futsal World Cup.

Ahmed Hamdi was an Egyptian engineer and army officer. He served as a general of the third army of Egypt during the October War. He was also an international sports shooter and competed in three events at the 1952 Summer Olympics. He won two gold medals at the 1951 Mediterranean Games. He was awarded the Sinai star posthumously.  

Karim Handawy is an Egyptian professional handball player. He represented his country at the World Men's Handball Championship in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021. In 2016, he participated in the Summer Olympics in Rio, and four years later, he took part in the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He currently plays for Zamalek SC (handball) and the Egyptian national team. 

The Pitati were a group of archers in ancient Egypt hailing from the southern Egyptian land of Kush. They were often requested to aid Egyptian vassals in Canaan, and to defend against attacks of rogue vassal-kings, the Habiru and foreign troops of neighbouring kingdoms. The correspondence of the 1350 BC Amarna letters gives an account of the Pitati archers.

Walid Abdel Maksoud is an Egyptian former professional handball player. Interested in sports from an early age, he began training as a young man. He performed well at the national level and was selected to participate in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. He competed in the handball event and was placed no.10. 

Farid Simaika was a professional diver who represented Egypt in the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. Simaika won the silver medal in 10-metre platform as well as the bronze medal in 3-metre springboard during the Olympics. In 1982, he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Farid Simaika also appeared in a couple of Hollywood films.

Azmi Mohamed Megahed played for Zamalek SC and Egypt national volleball team and took part in the men's tournament during the 1976 Summer Olympics. His later endeavours include serving as a board member of Zamalek SC, and as a political commentator and television presenter at Al Assema TV.  

Egyptian judoka Atif Muhammad Hussain competed during the men's middleweight event at the 1984 Summer Olympics. He later represented Guam while competing at the 1992 Summer Olympics.