Ibrahim Maza: Bio, Salary, Net worth, Lifestyle, Club, and International Career

Ibrahim Maza is a forward who made a name for himself while playing for Hertha BSC. After spending nearly seven years at Hertha Berlin, Maza made a switch to Bayer Leverkusen earlier this May. His transfer fee was reported to be around €12 million, as he signed a contract until 2030.

Born and raised in Germany, Maza is of mixed Algerian and Vietnamese descent. So when he was called up to the Algeria national football team for the first time to feature in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo, Maza had no hesitation in accepting the invitation. He, however, did not have much game time, coming on as a very late substitute.

Ibrahim Maza Bio

Ibrahim Maza Family and Early Life

Maza was born in Berlin to an Algerian father, but spent his entire youth international career with Germany. Despite being born in Bavaria, Maza is quite familiar with Algeria and grew up in the land of the Fennec Foxes before making a move to Europe. From the time he was a little kid, Maza was well aware of Algeria’s rich traditions and rich hospitality. Every summer, he would visit the country to meet his relatives, including his grandparents, who still reside in the suburbs of the Algerian capital. As a result, the bond between Maza and Algeria grew over the years. In an exclusive interview with FIFA, Maza once said, “The weather is lovely here, everyone is friendly and the country is beautiful.”

This is exactly why, as soon as he received a call-up from coach Vladimir Petkovic to represent Algeria against Togo in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifiers this October, he showed a thumbs-up to the proposal.

Playing Style and Strengths

Ibrahim Maza is an advanced playmaker. He is a highly technical and creative genius in the final third, personifying the unpredictability, creativity, and confidence typically associated with this role. The 19-year-old stands out for his technical acumen. The best feature of his playing style is ball carrying, as the Algerian international has demonstrated an exceptional ability to maintain tight control and slick technical shifts at high speeds. This helps him to adapt quickly, create space, or win balls in dangerous areas.

If you think Maza's lanky frame and 1.80m stature will crumble in front of the physicality of the opposition defenders, that's not the case, though. Maza exhibits remarkable strength in holding possession and maintaining balance under pressure. While he needs to build on his body mass to adapt to the hardcore style of play that football demands, the youngster should also be cautious about gaining too much muscle mass. Sacrificing his exceptional balance and nimble movement could hinder his unique qualities that make him so effective in tight spaces. Maintaining the right balance between physical development and preserving his natural agility can be key to his long-term success.

Maza is known for making smart runs into the opposition's penalty area and often finds himself in scoring positions. He skillfully baffles his markers, allowing him to exploit open space productively. Following a pass, he makes direct movements that establish advantageous angles for penetrative interplay, enhancing his team’s attacking dynamics.

Maza is a talented long-range finisher. He has perfected the art of hitting the ball with both his feet. His spontaneous style of play, agility, and the ability to take sharp turns help him beat defenders with ease. His body shifts allow him to create space from defenders, and his blistering burst of pace is an added advantage. Maza also imposes himself over the defensive department and sometimes even takes charge of the link-up plays.

The Algerian international actively monitors and tracks down runners and isn’t afraid to make physical challenges in midfield when needed. This facet of his game defines him as a complete player.

Maza also excels in tight-space ball manipulation. His superb first touch, supreme level of skill, and creative ingenuity make it difficult for a defender to win the ball from him. Maza always finds new ways to evade the opposition backline, keeping the defenders on their toes.

Ibrahim Maza Net Worth

Maza's exact net worth remains unknown, but he has already added to his value by making a profitable move to elite German club Bayer Leverkusen. The deal was finalized for 12 million euros, which would inadvertently have a positive effect on his valuation.

Ibrahim Maza Salary

Ibrahim Maza salary at Bayer Leverkusen has not been disclosed. However, we do know details about his previous salary at Hertha.

Ibrahim Maza Partner

Speaking about Ibrahim Maza's love life, there is no information available about his relationship status. From his social media handle, it's evident that his world revolves around football at the moment, but maybe one day he will share some more info on his personal life too.

Ibrahim Maza Career

Maza trained at Reinickendorfer Füchse before moving to the youth academy of Hertha BSC in 2018. He started his senior career with the Hertha reserves in 2022. His debut for the club came in April 2023 as a substitute against Bayern Munich. He spent a few more years at the Berlin-based club before finding a new home in Leverkusen.

Just like changing clubs, Maza also chose to transition from representing Germany to his father's country of origin, Algeria. Maza previously represented the German youth teams, starting from the U-18s to the U-20.

Club Career

Before becoming a midfield mainstay for Hertha, Maza was playing for the local side Reinickendorf Fuchse. It wasn’t long before the Alte Dame spotted the young prospect's spark and brought him to the club’s academy at the age of 11.

Fast forward six years, and Maza completed the transition from the playing fields of Berlin to the bright lights of the Bundesliga, coming on as a late substitute against the great Bayern Munich at the end of the 2022/23 season. The Algerian international scored his first professional goal exactly a month later, hitting the net against Wolfsburg on the final day of their campaign. The strike also made him the youngest goal-scorer, aged 17 years, six months, and three days, to score for Hertha.

The year also marked Hertha's first relegation from the Bundesliga since 2009/10. To add salt to their wounds, it was also a time when Maza struggled with a knee injury that kept him sidelined for almost half of the campaign. Maza finally made a return on Matchday 21 against Greuther Fürth. However, things changed for the better in 2024/25, with the Algerian international starting in all but one game in the league up to Matchday 32, registering five goals and three assists. He also ranked eighth in the division in terms of individual duels (both attacking and defensive) won. His playing style has drawn comparisons to Henrikh Mkhitaryan because of his versatility.

International Career

Maza is eligible to represent three countries because of his origin. Germany is his country of birth; his father is from Algeria, while his mother is Vietnamese. However, he chose to play for Algeria as a tribute to his father and also because of his deep connection with the country fostered because of his childhood visits.

During the initial days of Ibrahim Maza's career, he was a part of Germany's youth team. He represented Germany’s U18, U19, and U20 sides before switching to Algeria. So far, Maza has made three senior appearances for the 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 one-sided win over Togo at the end of 2024. Still a teenager, Maza's exposure to such spotlight, along with his experienced teammates, will surely help him develop quickly over the next couple of years.

Ibrahim Maza Awards and Achievements

Maza has yet to win a notable award in his career. Among the current crop of young players playing in the German league, he seems to stand out because of his maturity in the game.