Said El Mala
German footballer (born 2006)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Said El Mala (born 26 August 2006) is a German professional footballer who plays as winger for Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 26 August 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Krefeld, Germany | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | 1. FC Köln | ||
| Number | 13 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2016 | Linner SV | ||
| 2016–2017 | KFC Uerdingen 05 | ||
| 2017–2021 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | ||
| 2021–2023 | TSV Meerbusch | ||
| 2023–2024 | Viktoria Köln | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024 | Viktoria Köln | 10 | (1) |
| 2024– | 1. FC Köln | 23 | (8) |
| 2024–2025 | → Viktoria Köln (loan) | 32 | (13) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024 | Germany U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | Germany U19 | 15 | (7) |
| 2025– | Germany U21 | 5 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 02:06, 22 February 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18:50, 19 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Early life
El Mala was born on 26 August 2006 in Krefeld, Germany.[2][3] His mother, Sabrina, is German, and his father, Mohammed, is Lebanese.[2] Both work at Düsseldorf-based consumer goods company Henkel.[4] His father played as a centre-back for Linner SV in Krefeld.[2] El Mala's older brother, Malek, is also a professional footballer.[5]
Club career
El Mala began playing football with Linner SV, where his father had also played, joining the club on 30 March 2012[6] and playing until the under-11 level.[2] He then spent a brief period with KFC Uerdingen 05 during the U11 season,[7] before joining the youth academy of Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he remained until his release at age 14.[2] El Mala then joined TSV Meerbusch, before moving to Viktoria Köln in 2023.[2]
On 19 February 2024, El Mala signed his first professional contract with Viktoria Köln.[8] He made his senior debut two days later in a 3. Liga match against 1. FC Saarbrücken.[9] On 26 June 2024, he signed a contract with 1. FC Köln;[2] however, due to the club's transfer ban, he remained on loan at Viktoria Köln for the 2024–25 season.[5] After scoring 13 goals in 32 games, he was named the 2024–25 3. Liga Newcomer of the Season.[10]
On 19 July 2025, El Mala's contract was extended until 2030.[11] He scored his first Bundesliga goal on 31 August 2025, in Köln's 4–1 home win against SC Freiburg.[12]
International career
Born in Germany, El Mala is of Lebanese descent through his father.[13][14] He received his first call-up to the Germany national under-18 team in May 2024,[15] making his debut in a friendly against Denmark on 22 May 2024, replacing Bennit Bröger in the 60th minute.[16]
In May 2025, he was called up to the Germany under-19 squad for the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship,[17] scoring a late winner against Norway to help Germany reach the semi-finals.[18] On 5 September 2025, El Mala made his debut for the under-21 side,[19] and went on to appear in the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification.[20]
El Mala received his first senior call-up from coach Julian Nagelsmann for the final two matches of Germany's 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Luxembourg and Slovakia.[21][22]
Style of play
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | DFB-Pokal | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Viktoria Köln | 2023–24 | 3. Liga | 10 | 1 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 11 | 1 | |
| 1. FC Köln | 2024–25 | 2. Bundesliga | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2025–26 | Bundesliga | 23 | 8 | 2 | 0 | — | 25 | 8 | ||
| Total | 23 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 8 | ||
| Viktoria Köln (loan) | 2024–25 | 3. Liga | 32 | 13 | — | 2[a] | 0 | 34 | 13 | |
| Career total | 65 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 70 | 22 | ||
- Appearances in Middle Rhine Cup
Honours
Viktoria Köln
- Middle Rhine Cup: 2025
Individual
- Fritz Walter Medal U19 Silver: 2025[27]
- 3. Liga Newcomer of the Season: 2024–25[28]
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship top scorer: 2025[29]
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2025[30]