Aymen Hussein has become one of the leading figures in a new chapter of Iraqi football history. His decisive goal against Bolivia in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers helped Iraq secure a return to the World Cup stage after a 40-year absence. Yet behind this historic achievement lies a deeply emotional story of loss, resilience, and determination.

Hussein began playing football for a local team when he was just 12 years old. Around the same time, tragedy struck his family. His father had gone out to purchase materials for the construction of a new home when he was brutally killed.

Before the family could recover from that loss, another heartbreaking incident occurred. Hussein’s older brother, who later joined the Iraqi Army, was kidnapped and disappeared without a trace. To this day, the family has never received any information about his whereabouts.

The burden of responsibility on his family became so overwhelming that Hussein considered giving up football altogether. However, his mother refused to let him abandon his dream.

After his father’s death, Hussein wanted the family to move away, but his older brother disagreed. Meanwhile, he continued pursuing football and earned a place in Iraq’s youth national team.

When he returned from a training camp in Turkey, he received the shocking news that his brother had gone missing.

“Since then, we have never heard any news about him,” Hussein said.

A major turning point in Hussein’s career came in 2012 when he signed for Duhok SC, one of the top clubs in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. He received a contract worth 18 million Iraqi dinars (approximately $14,000) along with a monthly salary of 1.2 million dinars.

Yet for Hussein, money was never the main motivation.

After spending a year and a half at Duhok, he moved to Baghdad and represented some of Iraq’s biggest clubs, including Al-Shorta, Al-Talaba, and Al-Zawraa. During this period, he established himself as one of the country’s most prolific strikers, finishing as the league’s top scorer on multiple occasions.

His success eventually earned him a move to Qatar’s Al Khor SC. He later returned to Iraq and joined Al Karma SC.

Today, Hussein is regarded as Iraq’s most valuable footballer, reportedly earning a contract worth around $1 million.

Despite his achievements, the memories of his father and missing brother remain close to his heart.

Among the defining moments of his career are:

• Scoring a crucial goal against Qatar in 2016 to help Iraq qualify for the Rio Olympics.

• Finishing as the top scorer at the 2023 Arabian Gulf Cup and leading Iraq to the championship title.

• Scoring against Indonesia in 2024 to secure Iraq’s qualification for the Paris Olympics.

• Netting the winning goal against Bolivia in World Cup qualifying, helping Iraq return to the FIFA World Cup after four decades.

Iraq national team goalkeeper and vice-captain Jalal Hassan believes Hussein is the team’s most important attacking weapon.

The World Cup will undoubtedly present Iraq with immense challenges. However, millions of Iraqi supporters believe that the man who overcame unimaginable adversity can once again inspire the nation.

Aymen Hussein’s story is far more than a football success story. It is a powerful testament to courage, perseverance, and the strength of the human spirit. The boy who lost his father, lost his brother, and nearly gave up on football has become a symbol of hope and the embodiment of Iraq’s World Cup dream.