Mohammed Barakat (footballer)

Mohammed Barakat

Personal information
Date of birth	(1984-06-22)22 June 1984
Place of birth	Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Palestine
Date of death	11 March 2024(2024-03-11) (aged 39)
Place of death	Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Palestine
Position(s)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Shabab Khan Younis
	Al Sadaqa
	Ittihad Khanyounis
	Al Wehdat
2016–2019	Al Shoalah
0000–2023	Ahly Gaza
International career
2013	Palestine	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mohammed Barakat (22 June 1984 – 11 March 2024) was a Palestinian footballer who played as a forward. Nicknamed "the Lion" and "the Legend of Khan Younis", Barakat was the first centurion player in Palestinian football history, having scored 114 goals for Khan Younis Youth Club (Shabab Khan Younis). Prior to his death, the last club he played for was Ahly Gaza in the Gaza Strip Premier League. The breakout of Israel-Hamas war and the subsequent airstrikes targeting football stadia in the Gaza Strip, including Ahly Gaza's home the Palestine Stadium, effectively ended the League in 2023.

International career

Barakat made his debut for the Palestine national team on 2 March 2013 in a 1–0 victory against Bangladesh at the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification. He also played in a 9–0 victory against Northern Mariana Islands in the same tournament two days later. However, he was not selected to play in the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup.

His last appearance for the national team came in a 2–0 friendly defeat against Qatar on 17 April 2013.

Death

Barakat was killed by the Israel Defence Force during an airstrike on 11 March 2024, amid the Siege of Khan Yunis. He was 39. His remains were found in his destroyed home in Khan Yunis.