Aboutrika is regarded as one of the best African football players of all time, having lifted 28 major titles, including three Africa Cup of Nations titles over his 16-year career. He has also been named UNDP Goodwill Ambassador and is widely followed, having almost 17 million fans on different social media outlets. He has criticized African fans for excessively following European football clubs and for European football not acknowledging African leagues and merely using the talent of their players.