Mahdi Zein

Not to be confused with Mehdi Zeinoddin.

In this Lebanese name, the father's name is Wissam and the family name is Zein.

Mahdi Zein

Zein with Nejmeh in 2020
Personal information
Full name	Mahdi Wissam Zein[1]
Date of birth	(2000-05-23) 23 May 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Burj el-Shemali, Lebanon[1]
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[2]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Nejmeh
Number	10
Youth career
	Nejmeh
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–	Nejmeh	55	(3)
International career^‡
2015	Lebanon U16	3	(0)
2017	Lebanon U19	1	(0)
2021	Lebanon U23	6	(0)
2021–2023	Lebanon	15	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:16, 12 June 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 31 December 2023

Mahdi Wissam Zein (Arabic: مَهْدِيّ وِسَام الزَّيْن; born 23 May 2000) is a Lebanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for Lebanese Premier League club Nejmeh.

Club career

On 29 April 2019, Nejmeh renewed the contract of Zein for five years, renewable for two additional seasons.[3] On 2 April 2021, Zein scored his first senior goal against Shabab Sahel, helping his side win 3–0 in the league.[4] In July 2024, Zein renewed his contract with Nejmeh for 2 more years. [5]

International career

Zein with the Lebanon national team against Iran in 2022

Zein represented Lebanon at under-16, under-19 and under-23 levels.[1] His senior debut came on 4 December 2021, as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat to Algeria in the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup.[6] On 25 June 2023, Zein scored his first senior international goal in a 4–1 win against Bhutan in the 2023 SAFF Championship.[7]

Style of play

Regarded as one of Lebanon's most promising players,[8][9] Zein is a playmaking midfielder, capable of moving play from the defence to the attack.[8] His main abilities are his through passes and ball control.[8]

Personal life

Mahdi Zein's uncle, Haitham Zein, is a former Lebanese international.[10]

Career statistics

International

As of match played 10 September 2023[11]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Lebanon	2021	2	0
	2022	3	0
	2023	10	1
Total		15	1

Scores and results list Lebanon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Zein goal.

List of international goals scored by Mehdi Zein

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	25 June 2023	Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore, India	Bhutan	4–0	4–1	2023 SAFF Championship

Honours

Nejmeh

• Lebanese Premier League: 2023–24
• Lebanese FA Cup: 2021–22, 2022–23; runner-up: 2020–21
• Lebanese Elite Cup: 2021
• Lebanese Super Cup: 2023; runner-up: 2021

See also

• List of association football families

References

1. "Mahdi Zein". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
2. "FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021: List of players: Lebanon" (PDF). FIFA. 4 December 2021. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
3. "النجمة يجدد عقد مهدي الزين". كووورة. 9 July 2019. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
4. "بالصور: النجمة يحافظ على الصدارة بثلاثية في شباك الساحل". كووورة. 2 April 2021. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
5. "Facebook". www.facebook.com.
6. "Match Report of Lebanon vs Algeria - 2021-12-04 - FIFA Arab Cup - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
7. "Lebanon thrash Bhutan, put one foot in semis". www.the-aiff.com. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
8. "مهدي الزين ليس أفضل ناشئ في لبنان". العربي المستقل (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
9. "تقرير كووورة.. 5 مواهب خطفت الأنظار في الدوري اللبناني". كووورة. 3 June 2022. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
10. Hijazi, Alloffs (8 August 2021). "الهداف مهدي الزين يعيد سيرة عمه هيثم الزين". El Maestro Sport (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
11. "Mahdi Zein". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 1 July 2023.

External links

• Mahdi Zein at FA Lebanon
• Mahdi Zein at National-Football-Teams.com
• Mahdi Zein at Soccerway
• Mahdi Zein at Kooora.com (in Arabic) (archived in English at Goalzz.com)