Mauritania’s Aboubakary Koita has joined the list of Arab players to score against Real Madrid after finding the net for AEK Athens against the Spanish giants in Wednesday’s Champions League clash.
The Mauritania international struck during the teams’ meeting in Athens on Matchday 4 of the league phase, adding another name to the history of Arab goalscorers against Madrid.
Koita opened the scoring in the 12th minute, receiving the ball outside the penalty area and setting himself with his right foot before unleashing a powerful left-footed shot past Thibaut Courtois.
Koita’s Strike Adds to Arab Goal Tally Against Real Madrid
With the AEK Athens forward’s addition, the list now includes at least 31 Arab players who have scored against Real Madrid: 24 in competitive fixtures and seven in friendlies.
The documented Arab goal tally against Los Blancos has reached at least 36 across competitive and friendly matches, with Mauritania becoming the latest nationality represented.
Morocco leads the tally, with the goals distributed as follows:
- Morocco: 19 goals.
- Egypt: 6 goals.
- Saudi Arabia: 4 goals.
- Algeria: 3 goals.
- Tunisia: 1 goal.
- Iraq: 1 goal.
- Yemen: 1 goal.
- Mauritania: 1 goal.
The list features prominent names such as Mohamed Salah, Riyad Mahrez, Hakim Ziyech and Rabah Madjer. It also includes players who made their mark against Madrid while representing Arab clubs at the Club World Cup, including Fahad Al-Herifi, Ali Maaloul and Raja Casablanca duo Youssef Achami and Mustapha Moustawdaa.
Larbi Ben Barek Leads the Arab Scoring List
Morocco’s Larbi Ben Barek remains the leading scorer in the documented tally, with three goals against Real Madrid, all scored for their city rivals Atlético Madrid.
Ben Barek struck twice in Atlético’s historic 6–3 victory on 12 November 1950, before adding another goal in a 2–1 defeat on 16 November 1952.
Mohamed Salah and Hakim Ziyech follow with two goals each, alongside Saudi Arabia’s Malek Mouath, who scored twice in the friendly held as part of Majed Abdullah’s testimonial in 2008.
Koita, who joined AEK Athens from Belgium’s Sint-Truiden in summer 2024, has now added a goal against Real Madrid to his career highlights, having previously scored for Mauritania at the Africa Cup of Nations.
