Malek Issam Fakhro (; born 14 December 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for German club 1. FC Bocholt. Born in Germany, he plays for the Lebanon national team.
Early life Fakhro's parents left Lebanon in 1985 due to the ongoing civil war. He grew up with six other siblings in the district of Essen, Germany. After finishing secondary school, he started an apprenticeship in automotive mechatronics, though his primary focus remained football.
Fakhro started playing for the youth team of Rot-Weiss Essen aged six. Initially a defender, he moved up to the forward positions while playing for the under-12s. He joined Schwarz-Weiß Essen's youth setup in the under-14s, and was integrated into the senior team as an under-19 player.
Club career Following an Oberliga (fifth tier) match between SW Essen and SV Straelen in May 2020, Fakhro's performance impressed Straelen's president, prompting his signing shortly after. In his final season with SW Essen, he was named the club's "Player of the Year", having recorded 34 goals and 21 assists over five senior seasons, before departing after nine years with the team. He then joined newly promoted Regionalliga (fourth tier) side SV Straelen for the 2020–21 season, scoring nine goals in 27 appearances.
After one season at VfB Lübeck in 2021–22, in which he scored nine goals in all competitions, Fakhro joined 1. FC Bocholt in summer 2022. He scored 30 goals in his two seasons at 1. FC, and finished as second-best top scorer of the 2023–24 season with 15 goals.
On 4 June 2024, Fakhro joined MSV Duisburg alongside his former 1. FC Bocholt head coach, Dietmar Hirsch. Over the course of the season, he scored 10 goals and provided four assists in 33 appearances, including three braces against Borussia Mönchengladbach II (3–1), FC Gütersloh (3–4), and Schalke 04 II (4–0). Fakhro helped MSV Duisburg to a first-place finish in the 2024–25 Regionalliga West, which secured their promotion to the 3. Liga. He departed the club at the end of the season.
On 25 June 2025, Fakhro moved to Regionalliga club Hallescher FC. He scored eight goals in 36 appearances in all competitions. On 18 May 2026, Fakhro returned to 1. FC Bocholt.
International career Born and raised in Essen, Germany to Lebanese parents, Fakhro is eligible to represent both Germany and Lebanon internationally.
Fakhro was first called up to the Lebanon national team on 5 November 2024, for friendly games against Thailand and Myanmar. He made his debut on 14 November, playing as a starter in a 0–0 draw to Thailand. Against Myanmar on 19 November, Fakhro scored his first international goal, securing a 3–2 win for Lebanon. On 25 March 2025, Fakhro scored two goals in a 5–0 win against Brunei in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueDFB-PokalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsSchwarz-Weiß Essen2015–16Oberliga152—101622016–17Oberliga326—203462017–18Oberliga225—222472018–19Oberliga3110—3134112019–20Oberliga2011—212212Total120340010413038SV Straelen2020–21Regionalliga West279—20299VfB Lübeck2021–22Regionalliga Nord288—121409VfB Lübeck II2021–22Oberliga10——101. FC Bocholt2022–23Regionalliga West3015—4134162023–24Regionalliga West3115—403515Total613000816931MSV Duisburg2024–25Regionalliga West299—413310Hallescher FC2025–26Regionalliga Nordost32710203571. FC Bocholt2026–27Regionalliga West85—1196Career total30610210388346110
International
+Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsLebanon202441202584Total125
Scores and results list Lebanon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fakhro goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Malek FakhroNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar1–03–2Friendly2Saoud bin Abdulrahman Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar1–05–02027 Asian Cup qualification33–04Saoud bin Abdulrahman Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar1–04–02027 Asian Cup qualification5Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei1–03–02027 Asian Cup qualification
Honours VfB Lübeck Schleswig-Holstein Cup:
MSV Duisburg Regionalliga West: 2024–25
See also List of Lebanon international footballers born outside Lebanon
References
External links