Hannibal Mejbri reflects on journey from Paris suburbs to the World Cup with Tunisia: "I represent my neighbourhood'

Dedicated fans of men's international football will know that the Tunisian men's team has one of the most iconic nicknames in all of sport: The Eagles of Carthage.

The moniker pays homage to a civilisation that was one of the great powers of the ancient world. And Mejbri's name to one of its most famous sons: Hannibal Barca, the general who crossed the Alps with war elephants and came agonisingly close to capturing Rome (even riding to within sight of its walls), before a stalemate halted his ambitions.

Two millennia later, a different Hannibal is leading the Eagles of Carthage, this time at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and hoping for a different outcome. Despite his young age, 23-year-old Hannibal Mejbri has already established himself as one of the key players of a Tunisian side seeking to go where their nation has never gone before: over the mountains, and out of the group stage.

Hannibal Mejbri in Paris' La Banane

Hannibal Mejbri was born in Paris to Tunisian parents, and grew up in the French capital's 20th arrondissement - a densely populated, working-class district that has long been home to one of the city's most diverse communities. He describes it as a neighbourhood of "many Tunisians, many Algerians, many Moroccans, lots of Senegalese, Malians as well" — a place where football was the common language.

The local area includes a block of flats nicknamed La Banane — the Banana — on account of its curved shape. The area was the backdrop against which a footballer was quietly being formed.

"Instead of going straight up to my house, I used to stay out and play football until night fell," Mejbri recalls of his youth in the latest episode of World at Their Feet, an 11-episode short-form series from Olympics.com following emerging football talent on the road to the FIFA World Cup 2026.

"I was a normal boy, there was no master plan," he says. "I had my friends, I was focused on my life as a kid."

Childhood friend Hubert Mbuyi remembers a boy who stood out from the start — not just for his talent, but for his look. "He had a unique style, with big hair, big blonde hair. So everyone knew him and had a lot of expectations for him.

"Where you could find a pitch and a ball, you will find Hannibal."

From Paris to Monaco to Manchester

Mejbri joined Paris FC's academy when he was six, spending the better part of seven years there before leaving for a brief spell at Boulogne-Billancourt. In 2018, Ligue 1 giants Monaco came calling, signing the 15-year-old to their youth academy for a fee of €1 million.

"I could feel the richness of Monaco," Mejbri recalls of his move. "So yeah, it was a little bit of a shift, a little dream, and I learned a lot there."

Despite not enjoying the best of experiences at Monaco, Mejbri's existing talent and raw potential attracted the interest of Europe's biggest clubs, including Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona. Yet, in August 2019, the 16-year-old elected to sign for three-time Champions League winners Manchester United.

His rise through Old Trafford's ranks was swift. By 2021, he'd made his Premier League debut, and by September 2023, he scored his first top-flight goal for the club in a 3–1 home defeat against Brighton. "I still get chills," Mejbri says, reflecting on the strike. "I don't know why I started to celebrate when we were losing 3–0, and you can see in my celebration that I had a certain rage in me and that I let go of everything when I scored."

Tunisia over France: A choice made with the heart

Despite representing France at under-16 and under-17 level, Mejbri committed his international future to his parents' homeland when he was called up by Tunisia for the first time in 2021.

"I joined Tunisia because I chose with my heart," he says. "Even though I lived in France, it doesn't take away the love I have for France. But I find that the love I have for Tunisia is greater."

The midfielder is now 44 caps into his international career, and has twice been named African Revelation of the Year at the Africa d'Or awards. But whenever he pulls on the Tunisian shirt, La Banane is never far from his mind.

"When I represent my country, I also represent my neighbourhood," he says. "Because I know that I will represent them, and so all of that, it's a bit related to pride."

"All Tunisians are proud of him," Mbuyi adds, "because in the end, he's a kid from the neighbourhood. When he plays matches, everyone focuses on the match. We're all watching Hannibal's hair on the pitch. We try to spot him every time."

Every summer, Mejbri returns to La Banane and organises a football tournament for the community. Last year, he gave away around 100 shirts. "You can just walk around here and find two or three people wearing his shirt," says Mbuyi.

"Hannibal is a great example of what the people look for in this area. Because of him, the young kids can dream."

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