Haissem Hassan today: Egypt winger emerges against Argentina

Haissem Hassan went from a fringe figure in Egypt's World Cup squad to the player who repeatedly unsettled Argentina in a 3-2 round-of-16 defeat. The 24-year-old assisted Egypt's second goal and produced a remarkable solo run that ended with a disallowed effort. His performance also triggered a burst of attention across social media, especially in France, where he was born and raised.

What We Know So Far

Hassan had played no part in Egypt's group-stage matches and only made his tournament debut as a 67th-minute substitute against Australia in the round of 32. OneFootball reported that administrative issues had kept him out earlier in the competition. Days later, he started against Argentina and became one of the central figures in a match Egypt nearly turned into the upset of the tournament.

Operating as a left-footed right-winger, Hassan repeatedly carried the ball at Argentina's defence. Yahoo Sports UK reported that he created Egypt's second goal and also drove the length of the pitch, beating several defenders before scoring an effort that was disallowed. When he was substituted in the 73rd minute, Egypt lost much of the transition threat he had provided, and Argentina recovered to win 3-2.

The performance was striking because Hassan arrived at the World Cup without an established senior international profile. The Argentina match was only his seventh appearance for Egypt, according to Yahoo Sports UK. Before representing Egypt, he had played for France at under-17 level and appeared at the 2019 Under-17 World Cup.

His route to the senior international stage has been unusually broad. Raised in Paris, he began at Déjerine before joining Châteauroux. He later moved to Villarreal and spent loan periods in Spain, with his club career also including CD Mirandes and Sporting Gijon. He now plays for Real Oviedo in Spain's second tier, where he made 37 appearances during the 2025-26 campaign and recorded three assists.

His family background also shaped the international choice. OneFootball reported that he was born to a Tunisian mother and an Egyptian father and grew up watching Egypt with his father. Representing Egypt was described as a long-planned personal decision rather than a sudden switch created by World Cup attention.

Transition threat

An attacking danger created when a team quickly moves from defending to attacking, often into open space.

Right-winger

An attacker who mainly operates on the right side of the pitch.

What People Are Saying

The reaction centred on the scale of Hassan's leap from relative anonymity to a prominent role against the world champions. OneFootball collected posts from French users reacting with surprise and excitement, including repeated praise for his dribbling and direct running.

The attention was particularly strong in France because Hassan was born in Paris and previously represented the country at youth level. OneFootball described French social media users as embracing an Egyptian player with familiar roots, while Yahoo Sports UK presented him as a possible transfer target for clubs seeking a lower-cost attacking option.

That transfer angle is based on what scouts and clubs could see in one major match rather than a long record of elite-level production. His Real Oviedo numbers were modest, but the Argentina performance showed a capacity to beat defenders and create danger on the biggest stage.

How This Affects You

For football followers in Britain, Hassan is now a name likely to appear more often in transfer discussion. The sources do not report any approach from a British club, but his age, position and current status with a Spanish second-tier side make his future a clear point of interest after the tournament.

His emergence also adds another layer to how Egypt may rebuild its attack. Yahoo Sports UK described him as a player who fits the profile Egypt could need when Mohamed Salah eventually stops playing internationally: a left-footed attacker capable of operating from the right. The same source cautioned that Hassan has not yet shown the numbers or consistency associated with an established star.

Coming Up

Egypt's World Cup run is over after the 3-2 defeat by Argentina, so Hassan will not have another match at the tournament to build on the performance. The next confirmed chapter in the supplied sources is his return from the World Cup spotlight to a club career currently based at Real Oviedo.

What happens after that has not been confirmed. No transfer bid, negotiation or destination is reported in the source material.

At a Glance

• Haissem Hassan stood out in Egypt's 3-2 World Cup defeat by Argentina.
• He assisted Egypt's second goal and had a solo effort disallowed.
• The Argentina match was his seventh senior appearance for Egypt.
• He made his tournament debut against Australia after missing the group stage.
• The 24-year-old plays for Real Oviedo and previously represented France at under-17 level.
• His performance drew widespread attention on French social media.