Who is Ibrahim Maza? | OneFootball

Ibrahim Maza: Who is Hertha Berlin's Algerian wonderkid?

Teenager Ibrahim Maza has been ever present in Hertha Berlin's midfield this season. bundesliga.com takes a closer look at the Algerian Wunderkind...

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Stats correct as of 24 April 2025

Ibrahim Maza

Age: 19 (born 24 November 2005)Club: Hertha BerlinPosition: MidfielderCountry: Algeria (two caps)

Before becoming a midfield mainstay for Hertha, Berlin-born Daza was on the books of local side Reinickendorf Füchse. It wasn’t long before the Alte Dame spotted the capital shining light, however, and he joined the club’s academy at the age of 11.

Just six years later, Maza completed the transition from the playing fields of Berlin to the bright lights of the Bundesliga, coming on as a late substitute against Bayern Munich, of all teams, at the end of the 2022/23 season.

Maza (r.) was thrown in at the deep end on his Bundesliga debut, featuring against Bayern Munich and the likes of Joshua Kimmich (c.). (IMAGO/Sebastian Räppold/Matthias Koch)

Daza scored his first professional goal just one month later, netting against Wolfsburg on the final day of the campaign to become the youngest goalscorer in the Hertha history, aged 17 years, six months and three days.

After Hertha’s first relegation from the Bundesliga since 2009/10, Maza struggled with a knee injury that forced him to miss over half the ensuing campaign before returning on Matchday 21 against Greuther Fürth. It has been a much different story in 2024/25, though, with the Algeria international starting all but one game in the league up to and including Matchday 31, registering five goals and as many assists.

Naturally, Maza’s quality caught the eye at international level. He represented Germany’s U18, U19 and U20 sides before pledging his allegiance to Algeria, his father's homeland. So far, he has made two appearances for their national side, playing alongside the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Bundesliga stars such as Ramy Bensebaini, Farès Chaïbi and Mohamed Amoura. His debut for the Desert Foxes came in a 5-1 win over Togo at the end of 2024.

Plays a bit like: Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Just like the former Borussia Dortmund magician, Maza cause problems from across the midfield thanks to his varied skillset. Excellent close control, a penchant for hitting the ball from distance and an impressive range of passing combine to make Maza one of German football’s most exciting talents.

Did you know?

As well as Germany and Algeria, Maza could also have played for Vietnam through his mother.

What they’re saying

"The kid's full of confidence. He takes a sip of water, then gets straight back to it. He's a real talent." - Hertha captain Toni Leistner

"He's invaluable when he comes on as a sub in the 60th or 70th minute. He knows he has to fight when all the others are fit, but you can see that's what he's willing to do." - former Hertha head coach Pál Dardai

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