Stephan El Shaarawy was born in Savona on 27 October 1992. A gem in Genoa’s Primavera team, he made his Serie A debut when he was only 16 years old, becoming the youngest ever footballer to play for the ‘Grifone’ in Italy’s highest division. After a year with Padova in Serie B, AC Milan were the ones to sign the exciting youngster. While with the Rossoneri he scored his first Serie A goal and made his debut in the Champions League, becoming at just 20 years old Milan’s youngest ever goalscorer in the competition. Injuries took their toll during his final few years in Milan, and he was loaned to AS Monaco in the summer of 2015. He then joined Roma on loan in the winter transfer window and then permanently in the summer of 2016. He then moved to the Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua ahead of 2018/2019 season.

He may have been nicknamed ‘il Faraone’ (the Pharaoh) because of his Egyptian roots but El Shaarawy represented Italy at all levels of youth football, from the Under-16s up to the Under-21s.  He made his debut in a friendly in Bern against England on 15 August when he still wasn’t even 20 years old. Despite his youthful age, Coach Cesare Prandelli immediately considered him to be an important part of the team and El Shaarawy repaid that confidence show in him by scoring his first goal in just his third appearance in the Azzurri shirt; a goal in a friendly in Parma against France.  His first major tournament was the 2013 Confederations Cup but he was unable to showcase his talent due to several injury problems he faced during the tournament. Injury concerns also cost him a place in the National Team for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He was brought back into the 23-man squad for the 2016 European Championships by Coach Antonio Conte.

At this point in time El Shaarawy has made 24 appearances and scored four goals for the National Team.