Biography
Who is Akram Afif?
Early life and youth career
Akram Afif Hassan Afif Yahya Afif was born in Doha, Qatar. His family has deep roots in football. His father, Hassan Afif, played professionally in Tanzania and Somalia before moving to Qatar to play for Al Ittihad. Hassan later became a manager for clubs like Al-Gharafa and Al-Markhiya. His brother, Ali Afif, is also a professional athlete who plays for the Umm Salal club.
Akram attended the Aspire Academy as a full-time student starting in 2009. While there, he participated in a special exchange program that allowed him to train with youth squads in Spain, specifically Sevilla and Villarreal. He graduated from this academy in June 2015. To prepare for his professional opportunities abroad, he also dedicated time to learning the Spanish language.
European club career
His professional path in Europe began in January 2015 when he joined the Belgian team K.A.S. Eupen. He made an immediate impact, scoring during his debut match against Eendracht Aalst. In a subsequent game against KRC Mechelen, he provided three assists. By March 2016, he netted two goals in a single match against KSV Roeselare.
In May 2016, Akram signed a permanent contract with the Spanish club Villarreal CF. This move made him the first player born in Qatar to join a La Liga team. Shortly after, he went on a season-long loan to Sporting de Gijón. He made his debut in the Spanish top division in August 2016 against Athletic Bilbao. He later returned to Eupen on a one-year loan deal in 2017 to continue his development.
Success with Al Sadd
In January 2018, Villarreal sent Akram on loan to the Qatari club Al Sadd. He performed exceptionally well during the 2018–19 season, scoring 26 goals and providing 15 assists across 22 league games. This performance helped the club secure a league title and earned him the Best Player Award from the Qatar Football Association.
In July 2020, he signed a five-year deal to join Al Sadd permanently. He continued to excel during the 2023–24 season, contributing 26 goals and 11 assists in 22 matches. This effort helped Al Sadd win its 17th league title. He also received the top goal-scorer award and another Best Player honor from the Qatar Football Association for his contributions throughout the campaign.
International achievements
Akram has been a central figure for the Qatar national team. He first gained attention during the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship, where he scored four goals, including the winning goal in the final against DPR Korea. He joined the senior squad in 2015 under coach Daniel Carreño.
During the 2019 Asian Cup, he was instrumental in helping Qatar win the trophy, setting a tournament record with 10 assists. In the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, he scored a hat-trick of penalties in the final to help Qatar defeat Jordan 3–1. He finished that tournament as the top scorer with eight total goals. His consistency earned him the Asian Footballer of the Year award in 2019 and again in 2023.
Birthday and age
Akram Afif was born on November 18, 1996, which makes Akram 29 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Akram shares the date with 53 other famous people.
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