Aymen Hussein: 'Lion of Mesopotamia' overcomes tragedy to reach World Cup
Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein, after personal tragedies, helped his country qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 40 years.
Aymen Hussein, Iraq's centre-forward, has endured a long and relentless journey to the World Cup. He propelled his country to the tournament for the first time in four decades by scoring the winning goal against Bolivia in the qualifiers in Mexico.
Tragedy struck early in his life. In 2008, when he was just 12, his father, an Iraqi army soldier, was murdered by al-Qaeda. A few years later, his older brother was kidnapped and has never been heard from again. Hussein wanted to quit football to support his family, but his mother insisted he continue, telling him it was his dream and he had to achieve it.
Despite these hardships, Hussein's football career flourished. In 2012, he was scouted and joined Dohuk club, later playing for several Iraqi Stars League teams and becoming the league's top scorer. He became Iraq's most expensive footballer, with a contract reportedly worth $1 million. He was the top scorer in the 2023 Arabian Gulf Cup and helped Iraq qualify for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Now at the World Cup, Iraq is placed in Group F alongside France, Senegal, and Norway. Fans hope Hussein, affectionately known as "Abu Tubar" (the "Hatchet Man"), can lead the team beyond the group stage. However, many Iraqi fans face difficulties obtaining US visas and affording the expensive tickets and travel costs.
