Mohammed Barakat (footballer)

Mohammed Barakat (22 June 1984 – 11 March 2024) was a Palestinian footballer who played as a forward. Nicknamed "the Lion" and "the Legend of Khan Younis", Barakat was the first centurion player in Palestinian football history, having scored 114 goals for Khan Younis Youth Club (Shabab Khan Younis). Prior to his death, the last club he played for was Ahly Gaza in the Gaza Strip Premier League. The breakout of Israel-Hamas war and the subsequent airstrikes targeting football stadia in the Gaza Strip, including Ahly Gaza's home the Palestine Stadium, effectively ended the League in 2023.

International career
Barakat made his debut for the Palestine national team on 2 March 2013 in a 1–0 victory against Bangladesh at the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification. He also played in a 9–0 victory against Northern Mariana Islands in the same tournament two days later. However, he was not selected to play in the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup.

His last appearance for the national team came in a 2–0 friendly defeat against Qatar on 17 April 2013.

Death
Barakat was killed by the Israel Defence Force during an airstrike on 11 March 2024, amid the Siege of Khan Yunis. He was 39. His remains were found in his destroyed home in Khan Yunis.