Omar Khribin (, also spelled Kharbin or Kh'rbin; born 15 January 1994) is a Syrian professional footballer who plays as a forward or a winger for Emirati Club Al-Wahda and the Syria national team.
In 2017, Khribin became the first Syrian ever to win the Asian Footballer of the Year. He has also won the 2019 AFC Champions League with Al Hilal and has plied his trade in Iraq, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Club career
Early career Karbin played four seasons for Al-Wahda in the Syrian Premier League. In the summer of 2013, Khribin joined Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya In the Iraqi Premier League, on a two-year loan. On 6 August 2015, Khribin signed for Al-Mina'a, on a one-year loan.
Al Hilal On 19 June 2017, Saudi Arabian giants, Al Hilal officially bought Khribin for 44 million riyals on a four-years contract. On 10 August 2017, Omar scored his first goal against Al Taawoun in the 14th minute, winning 4–3. Later that year, on 26 September 2017, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 victory over Iranian club, Persepolis during the 2017 AFC Champions League semi-finals.
Pyramids (loan) In January 2019, Khribin moved to Egyptian side Pyramids on a loan deal until the end of the 2018–19 season; he scored in his first match against Zamalek on 24 January, and four goals in his first 5 matches.
Return to Al Hilal Khribin rejoined Al Hilal in summer 2019; he played at the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup, becoming the first Syrian to do so. Despite not featuring in any match, he was part of the team which achieved the 2019 AFC Champions League.
Al Wahda In January 2021, Khribin joined Emirati club Al Wahda. He finished his debut season as his club's top scorer with 15 goals.
Loan to Shabab Al Ahli Khribin joined Shabab Al Ahli on loan for the 2022–23 season, where he managed to achieve the UAE Pro League title.
Return to Al Wahda and Pro League's top scorer Khribin return to Al Wahda for the 2023–24 season, in which he concluded the campaign as the league's top scorer with 19 goals.
International career On 20 November 2012, Khribin was called up for the Syria national team and made his first international friendly games against Palestine.
In the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, Khribin was part of the 10 matches in the third round and the two matches against Australia in the fourth round, he just scored 10 goals in the qualifiers, of which 7 in the second round.
In the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, Khribin played the whole 90 minutes of the three group stage matches. He scored a goal against Australia, as Syria exited with just one point out of three matches.
In September 2019, the Syrian Football Federation announced that Khribin was suspended from the national team due to multiple instances of uninformed absence. Khribin later returned to play against Maldives on 10 October. In November 2020, he mentioned that he was excluded from the national team coached by Nabil Maâloul, after he had suggested to play as a second striker.
In December 2023, Khribin was named in the Syrian squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. On 23 January 2024, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over India, which granted his country their first win in the competition since 2011, and first ever qualification to the knockout phase as one of the best third-placed teams. During the round of 16 match against Iran, Khribin netted the leveling goal from a penalty in a 1–1 tie. Nonetheless, Syria ultimately succumbed 5–3 in the penalty shootouts.
On 27 March 2024, Khribin scored his first international hat-trick in a 7–0 victory against Myanmar during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAl-Wahda2011–12Syrian Premier League?200–––?22012–13Syrian Premier League?700–––?7Total16900–––?9Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya2013–14Iraqi Premier League?800–––?82014–15Iraqi Premier League?300–––?3Total301100–––3011Al Minaa2015–16Iraqi Premier League101000–––1010Al Dhafra2015–16UAE Pro League1181000––1282016–17UAE Pro League1481146––1915Total25162146––3123Al Hilal2016–17Saudi Pro League107350084–21162017–18Saudi Pro League16700–66–22132018–19Saudi Pro League4000–0010502019–20Saudi Pro League16600–00301962020–21Saudi Pro League8110–000091Total542145001410407636Pyramids2018–19Egyptian Premier League12600–––126Al Wahda2020–21UAE Pro League108000094–19122021–22UAE Pro League25154200––2917Total3523420094–4829Shabab Al Ahli2022–23UAE Pro League217201011–258Al Wahda2023–24UAE Pro League25190074––32232024–25UAE Pro League11101121––1412Total3629119500–4635Career total2411321291411241540293167
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSyria201280201372201433201586201662201753201821201961202000202152202220202331202455202585Total7031
Scores and results list Syria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Khribin goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Omar KhribinNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad, Iraq1–11–2Friendly2Prince Mohammed Stadium, Zarqa, Jordan1–0Friendly3Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan1–22015 AFC Asian Cup qualification4Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam, Malaysia3–03–0Friendly5Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia2–02–0Friendly6Al-Seeb Stadium, Seeb, Oman2–1Friendly7Samen Stadium, Mashhad, Iran6–06–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification8Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia1–06–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification93–010National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore1–02–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification112–112Al-Seeb Stadium, Seeb, Oman1–06–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification132–014Hang Jebat Stadium, Malacca, Malaysia1–01–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification15Hang Jebat Stadium, Malacca, Malaysia1–03–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification162–117Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates1–01–0Friendly18Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates1–12–32019 AFC Asian Cup19Ansan Wa~ Stadium, Ansan, South Korea1–11–22022 FIFA World Cup qualification20King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman, Jordan1–02–32022 FIFA World Cup qualification21Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates2–13–1Friendly22Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar1–01–02023 AFC Asian Cup23Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar1–11–1 2023 AFC Asian Cup24Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam, Saudi Arabia1–07–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification254–0265–027Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia1–05–12027 AFC Asian Cup qualification282–0294–030Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar1–01–02025 FIFA Arab Cup31Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar1–11–12025 FIFA Arab Cup
Honours
Al Hilal Saudi Pro League: 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20 King Cup: 2017, 2019–20 Saudi Super Cup: 2018 AFC Champions League: 2019, runner-up 2017
Shabab Al Ahli UAE Pro League: 2022–23
Al-Wehda UAE League Cup: 2023-24 Syria WAFF Championship: 2012
Individual AFC Champions League Top Scorer: 2017 Asian Footballer of the Year: 2017 UAE Pro League Top Scorer: 2023–24
References
External links