Iraq’s star striker Aymen Hussein, nicknamed the ‘Lion of Mesopotamia’, will make his World Cup debut with the national team, marking a historic first for the country in 40 years. Hussein secured Iraq's qualification by scoring the winning goal against Bolivia in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers held in Mexico.

This achievement is the culmination of a long and arduous journey for the 30-year-old forward, marked by profound personal loss. Hussein’s path to international football stardom was shaped by the brutal murder of his father when he was just 12 years old, followed by the kidnapping of his older brother a few years later.

Hussein revealed in an interview that after his father's death, he considered abandoning football to support his family. However, his mother urged him to continue, emphasizing that it was his dream to fulfill. "She asked me to continue playing. It is your dream. I know that. And you have to achieve it," he recounted.

The striker's journey to the World Cup is a testament to his resilience and dedication, transforming personal grief into national triumph. His pivotal goal against Bolivia in the Inter-Confederation Playoffs Final in Monterrey, Mexico, on March 31, 2026, etched his name in Iraqi football history.

Born in 1996 in the village of al-Safra, located in the al-Hawija district of north-central Iraq, Hussein grew up in a farming family. His father, an Iraqi army soldier, was murdered by al-Qaeda militants in 2008 while purchasing materials for their new home. "He had been fatally shot in the heart," Hussein stated, describing the moment his family identified his father's body at the hospital as a "disaster."

Despite the family's initial desire to relocate due to the violence, Hussein’s older brother, who had joined the army after their father's death, insisted they stay. Instead of fleeing, Hussein focused on his burgeoning football career, joining the Iraqi Youth team. However, tragedy struck again a few years later when his brother was kidnapped during the period when ISIL (ISIS) exerted control over the region. "We have heard nothing about him since," Hussein stated.

Amidst these devastating events, Hussein’s football career began to gain momentum. A significant turning point arrived in 2012 when he was scouted by Dohuk FC, a team in the Iraq Stars League. He signed a contract that included a substantial sum and a monthly salary, though he expressed that he would have played for free, emphasizing the profound meaning of playing with other players.

Hussein's success has also seen him become one of Iraq's highest-paid footballers, playing professionally in various leagues. His journey from a war-torn region, marked by immense personal loss, to leading his nation to its first World Cup in four decades, highlights a remarkable narrative of hope and perseverance.