Karim Mekkaoui
Lebanese footballer (born 2003)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Karim Muhieddine Mekkaoui (Arabic: كريم محيي الدين مكاوي; born 19 April 2001) is a Lebanese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Cypriot club Ethnikos Achna and the Lebanon national team.
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Mekkaoui in 2026 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Karim Muhieddine Mekkaoui[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 19 April 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Beirut, Lebanon[1] | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Ethnikos Achna | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2017–2018 | Safa | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2021 | Racing Beirut | ||
| 2021–2022 | Othellos Athienou | 16 | (2) |
| 2022–2023 | Ayia Napa | 25 | (3) |
| 2023–2026 | Omonia Aradippou | 55 | (6) |
| 2026 | Doxa Katokopias | 4 | (0) |
| 2026– | Ethnikos Achna | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019 | Lebanon U19 | 3 | (1) |
| 2021–2023 | Lebanon U23 | 10 | (1) |
| 2025– | Lebanon | 3 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 3 May 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 8 September 2025 | |||
Club career
Racing Beirut
Mekkaoui played for Lebanese side Safa's youth team in 2017, but left due to limited senior playing time.[2] He joined Racing Beirut mid-2017–18 season in 2018,[2] and made his Lebanese Premier League debut under coach Roda Antar aged 16.[3] He "quickly caught the eye with his skills, high technique, and scoring sense" while playing for the club.[4] Mekkaoui was awarded the 2018–19 Lebanese Premier League Best Young Player while playing for them.[5] Following this season, Mekkaoui had a trial with Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, but did not sign due to passport-related issues.[2]
Cyprus
In 2021, Mekkaoui signed for Cypriot Second Division side Othellos Athienou on a two-year contract,[6] and scored twice in 16 games in the 2021–22 season.[7] In 2022, Mekkaoui signed for Second Division side Ayia Napa,[8] making 25 league appearances and scoring three goals in 2022–23.[9] In 2023, he moved to side Omonia Aradippou,[10] helping the club achieve promotion to the Cypriot First Division in his first season.[3] Mekkaoui played 55 games between 2023 and 2026, scoring six goals in the process.[7]
On 28 January 2026, Mekkaoui joined Doxa Katokopias mid-2025–26 Second Division.[7] During a match against Omonia 29M on 21 February, he suffered a pelvic fracture and was sidelined for the rest of the season.[11] On 6 July 2026, Mekkaoui moved to newly-relegated Second Division side Ethnikos Achna, ahead of the 2026–27 season.[12]
International career
Mekkaoui played for Lebanon internationally at the under-14 level and progressed through the youth teams.[2] He played for the under-23 team at the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification.[13]
Mekkaoui was first called up to the Lebanon national team ahead of the friendly match against Oman on 28 May 2025,[14] and made his debut as a second-half substitute.[15]
Personal life
Mekkaoui cited France international Paul Pogba and Lebanon international Mohamad Haidar as his football idols. He is a supporter of the Portugal national team and Spanish side Real Madrid.[16]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 21 February 2026[1]
| Club | Season | League | Cypriot Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Othellos Athienou | 2021–22[17] | Cypriot Second Division | 16 | 2 | — | 16 | 2 | |
| Ayia Napa | 2022–23[9] | Cypriot Second Division | 25 | 3 | — | 25 | 3 | |
| Omonia Aradippou | 2023–24[18] | Cypriot Second Division | 25 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 5 |
| 2024–25[19] | Cypriot First Division | 20 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 2 | |
| 2025–26[20] | Cypriot First Division | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Total | 55 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 60 | 7 | ||
| Doxa Katokopias | 2025–26[21] | Cypriot Second Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Ethnikos Achna | 2026–27 | Cypriot Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 100 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 105 | 12 | ||
International
- As of match played 8 September 2025[22]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon | 2025 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 3 | 0 | |
Honours
Individual
Omonia Aradippou
