Remembering Palestinian football legend Mohammed Barakat
Tributes have been pouring in from around the globe for the athlete, who recently was killed in an Israeli air strike. He is best remembered for his goal-getting prowess and warm spirit off the field.

Mohamad Mechleb Matar of Lebanon is tackled by Mohammed Barakat (R) of Palestine during the Beach Soccer Men's Bronze Medal Match at the 3rd Asian Beach Games Haiyang 2012 in Haiyang, China. / Photo: Getty Images
Sports fans around the world are bidding a tearful goodbye to the "legend of Khan Younis," footballer Mohammed Barakat this week. The athlete was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his home on the first day of Ramadan.
The 39-year-old was affectionately referred to by fellow players as "the lion" for his performances on the pitch. He is one of more than 31,000 Palestinians who have been killed by Israel since it launched its war on Gaza in October..
In a statement about Barakat's death, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) lambasted a decades-long Israeli “injustice and occupation” that has left more than a hundred other athletes dead.
Mohammed Barakat, aged 39, was tragically murdered when the Zionist Forces bombed his family home this morning.
— Aida Celtic (@aida_celtic) March 11, 2024
Known as "The Legend of Khan Younis," he was the first Gazan to score 100 goals and is one of the leading scorers in Palestine. pic.twitter.com/VJcE8Sy7WN
The PFA also paid tribute to Barakat's contribution, which left an indelible mark on Palestine's footballing heritage.
This included his performances with the men's national football team, international beach soccer success, spells with clubs in Gaza, and overseas experiences.
Barakat was known as a nifty and rapid player with a kind spirit off the pitch, and his killing has been describedas a "great loss for Palestinian football."
Mohammed Barakat, a top scorer known as "The Legend of Khan-Younis" who played in several football clubs in the West Bank and Al-Wehdat in Jordan, was killed by Israeli airstrikes yesterday pic.twitter.com/lPcKt1hc3e
— TIMES OF GAZA (@Timesofgaza) March 12, 2024
FIFA's double standards
Football fans have been paying homage to Barakat and discussing the untimely injustice of his death.
Football Palestine, a social media account dedicated to covering all aspects of Palestinian soccer, shared a video with the sound of Israeli air strikes in the background before his death.
The account also criticised the world's football authorities for not calling out the "murder" of innocent footballl players in Gaza.
"@FIFAcom and @FIFPRO have said nothing about his murder or that of 92 other footballers and administrators during this war," it said.
RIP Mohammed Barakat.
— Nima Tavallaey Roodsari (@NimaTavRood) March 13, 2024
Every passing day that Israel is allowed to compete is just further admission by @Eurovision @FIFAcom @UEFA & @iocmedia as to what spineless NATO puppets they are.
Sign @DiEM_25 petition calling for ban on the apartheid state:
✍️⤵️https://t.co/56swfWATuV https://t.co/sIwRfyStXn
The sentiments were echoed by sports writer Leyla Hamed, who said, "Israel continues assassinating the beautiful game. @FIFAcom, your silence is deafening."
Others called for Israel to be banned and sanctioned from competitive football amid the continued onslaught against Palestinians.
Turkish Scholar Ibrahim Karatas also touched on the double standards.
"Are @FIFAcom and @UEFAcom deaf or blind? Didn't they ban Russian and Belarussian teams from tournaments?" he wrote on X.
Mohammed Barakat, a Palestinian football player, was born in Khan Younis in 1984. He gained widespread recognition as the historic top scorer and star of the Palestinian national team. He became the first Palestinian striker to reach 100 goals and was one of the best scorers in… pic.twitter.com/3OD6BN2Fm3
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) March 11, 2024
Tributes came from as far as Chile, home to around 500,000 descendants of Palestinian refugees and migrants in a country of roughly 19 million people - with the official account of Chile's Palestinian community calling the player a "legend".
Chilean Football 'Club Deportivo Palestino', a side based in the capital Santiago honouring the Palestinian community’s heritage also paid tribute to Barakat.
Playing career
Barakat's burgeoning career began in 2015 with the Palestinian team "Shabab Khanyounis."
Later, he forged legendary status at the Khan Younis Youth Club. He eventually became the first Palestinian footballer in Gaza to score 100 goals while on a single team.
His path in football would take him to clubs in different parts of Palestine, with spells at Al-Sadaqa and Al-Ahli Gaza.
Mohammed Barakat won three caps for Palestine. He also was part of a generation of two-way footballers that also represented 🇵🇸 in Beach Soccer.
— Football Palestine (@FutbolPalestine) March 11, 2024
At 39 years old he was still playing and bagging goals. His last one was for Ahli Gaza in a 1-1 draw this past August.
RIP 💔🕊️ https://t.co/6Yq2gaUKis
While he only played three caps with the men's national football team, Barakat quickly established himself with the men's beach football team. In 2012, he won a bronze medal at the Asian Beach Games alongside his team-mates, finding the net four times.
"At 39 years old, he was still playing and bagging goals. His last one was for Ahli Gaza in a 1-1 draw this past August," wrote the Football Palestine account.
He also enjoyed spells at Saudi Arabian football club Al-Shoulla, which plays the city of Al Kharj, scoring on his debut in 2015.
Additionally, he played some friendly matches with the Jordanian domestic side Al-Wehdat Sports Club, based in and representing the Amman New Camp - a Palestinian refugee camp known by the same name.
Dejamos de lado la alegría de la clasificación, para contarles una triste noticia: el asesinato de la leyenda de Mohammed Barakat, leyenda del fútbol palestino, a sus 39 años. El delantero fue encontrado muerto en su casa, tras un bombardeo israelí contra su casa en Khan Younis. pic.twitter.com/7jUVhJmfU1
— Club Deportivo Palestino (@CDPalestinoSADP) March 13, 2024
Israel's aggression against footballers
Other Palestinians have also been targeted by Israel's continued aggression.
In the previous month, the PFA announced the deaths of local footballers Osama Abu Nahar, Ahmed Tariq Faraj, and Nabil Atta Amer, which reportedly came after Israeli forces raided Tulkarm Youth Center in the West Bank's Tulkarm camp.
Beyond the brutal Israeli onslaught against Palestinians in Gaza, Israeli policies have deeply hampered the growth of Palestinian football due to the curbing of freedom of movement for players, coaches, officials, and equipment getting in and out of the territories.