Hassan Ali Maatouk (, ; born 10 August 1987) is a Lebanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Ansar and captains the Lebanon national team. Known for his pace and technical skills, Maatouk is Lebanon's all-time top goalscorer and most-capped player; he became a key part of the national team as their captain since 2016.
Maatouk began his senior career at age 17 in 2005 at Ahed in Lebanon. He won a total of 11 trophies with his team, including three Lebanese Premier League titles and three Lebanese FA Cups in his seven-year stay. Maatouk moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2011 on a one-year loan to Ajman; after a short spell at Emirates, he signed for Al-Shaab. In 2013, he transferred to Fujairah, where he remained for four seasons scoring 56 goals for the team and becoming their all-time top goalscorer. In 2017, Maatouk returned to his home country signing with Nejmeh: he won two Lebanese Elite Cups, and was named Best Player of the league in both seasons at the club. In 2019 he joined cross-city rivals Ansar on a free transfer, helping them win their first league title in 14 years in 2021 as the league top scorer.
In 2006, Maatouk debuted with the national team aged 19, in a match against Saudi Arabia; his first goal came in 2011 against Bangladesh. In 2016, he succeeded Roda Antar as captain of the team. With five goals in six matches in the third round of qualification for the 2019 Asian Cup, Maatouk helped an unbeaten Lebanon qualify for their first Asian Cup through qualification. As of October 2023, Maatouk has scored 23 goals in 112 games, becoming his country's all-time top goalscorer and most-capped player. He also became the first player to reach 100 international caps for his nation in 2022.
During his stint at Ahed, Maatouk was nominated Best Player of the Lebanese Premier League in 2010 and 2011, an accomplishment which he won twice more with Nejmeh in 2018 and 2019. Maatouk was also included in the Team of the Year those four years. With Fujairah in the UAE, Maatouk scored 56 goals in 110 games, becoming the club's all-time top goalscorer. He has also scored over 100 goals in the Lebanese Premier League with Ahed, Nejmeh and Ansar. Maatouk won the Lebanese Premier League Golden Boot twice, in 2011 and 2021.
Early life
Born in Sir el Gharbieh, Lebanon on 10 August 1987, Maatouk and his family fled to Germany in 1989 because of the Lebanese Civil War. He first started playing football in Germany, playing for Rot-Weiss Essen's youth team. Maatouk cited his experience in Europe as essential to his development. He returned to Lebanon in 1998, and later signed with Ahed's youth team.
Club career
Ahed
2004–05: Debut season
Coming through the youth system, Maatouk's senior career began at age 17 with Ahed. He made his debut on 28 September 2004, coming on as a substitute for Ali Attar against Olympic Beirut in the 2004 Lebanese Elite Cup group stage. Maatouk's first league goal for Ahed came on 20 March 2005 against Rayyan when he scored the match winner in a 2–1 win. His first brace came two months later on Matchday 19, when he scored the only two goals in a match against Tadamon Sour.
Maatouk scored three goals in the 2005 AFC Cup, two of which were against Al-Hussein of Jordan on 25 May. He ended his 2004–05 season with three league goals, and won the Lebanese FA Cup as man of the match in the final which Ahed won 2–1 against Olympic Beirut.
2005–2009: First league title and domestic treble
On 5 February 2006, during the 2005–06 Lebanese Premier League season, Maatouk scored his first domestic hat-trick against Salam Zgharta in an 8–0 win. He scored a total of eight goals in the league, improving on his previous tally of three. His 2006–07 Lebanese Premier League season, however, was not as prolific, scoring only three league goals and two cup goals.
Maatouk began the 2007–08 season with a hat-trick against Tripoli on Matchday 5, in a match that ended 7–1. Thanks to four other goals scored throughout the season, Maatouk helped Ahed win their first-ever Lebanese League title.
Maatouk was the top scorer of the 2008 Lebanese Elite Cup with three goals, on a par with his teammate Salih Sadir. He scored in both of the 2009 AFC Cup group stage games against Busaiteen, but his team failed to qualify to the next round. He won a domestic treble with Ahed during the 2008–09 season, winning the Lebanese FA Cup, the Elite Cup, and the Super Cup.