Called up to the national team when he least expected it, the 29-year-old striker became, on 22 June against New Zealand, the first Egyptian to both score and provide an assist in the same World Cup match - a feat matched in the same game by Mohamed Salah.
"I was getting ready to spend my summer holidays on the north coast when I was surprised by a call from Hossam Hassan to join the national team, and here I am playing and scoring at the World Cup," he said after the 3-1 win over the Kiwis in Vancouver, still in disbelief.
Nothing came easy for the young Mostafa Mohamed Zaky Abdelraouf - his full name - who, after losing his father at 14, had to work in the family clothing shop in Chibin el Kom, northeast of Cairo, but never gave up on his footballing dreams. The one who truly gave up was his older brother Abdelraouf.
'Zaky, our grandfather's name'
"After our father died, we took responsibility by working together, then I decided to stop playing football to prioritise Mostafa's career," his elder brother, a former Tanta SC player, told AFP.
"Eventually, we closed the shop to focus entirely on his journey." In fact, the Egyptian "Ziko" was originally him, not Mostafa.
"When I played football, my name was very long, so my uncle gave me the nickname 'Ziko' out of affection, as it comes from Zaky, our grandfather's name, and because he liked the Brazilian Zico. When Mostafa started playing, he was called 'little Ziko', and only became 'Ziko' after I stopped." In 2020, Mostafa was signed by Haras El-Hodoud, a club with which he earned promotion to the Egyptian top flight two seasons later. In 2023, he joined ZED and then Pyramids FC in 2025, where he became a key player in the team that won the Egypt Cup in May.
First called up to the national team at the end of 2022 by Portuguese coach Rui Vitoria, he didn't play at all. So it was a surprise when he was selected for the final training camp before the World Cup. To say that coach Hossam Hassan had an eye for talent is an understatement.
On his debut, 'Ziko' came off the bench to score the winner in a friendly against Russia (1-0), then netted Egypt's only goal in a friendly defeat to Brazil (2-1) at the start of June, capitalising on a mistake by Marquinhos.
'I told him he would score'
That goal against the Seleção even earned him congratulations from the real Ziko, the "White Pelé", in a video message. Then came the ultimate prize: a World Cup goal.
"Before the match, I spoke to him on the phone and found out he would be starting, I told him he would score," his older brother told AFP.
"After the match, neighbours, friends and people from our town gathered outside our house to celebrate. Everyone loves Mostafa."
After the match, Ziko immediately thought of his family. "I dedicate this win and this goal to my mother and my brother Abdelraouf, who has been like a father to me since our own father died. I wish he were still alive to see what I've achieved."
Playful Brazilian media pointed out that Mostafa was truly following in the footsteps of the "White Pelé", who also scored against New Zealand at the 1982 World Cup.
"From the very first minute, Hossam Hassan trusted me and I didn't let him down," said the Egyptian striker, already prolific with three goals in five caps.
"We haven't achieved anything yet, so why not aim as high as possible in this tournament?"