Iqraam Rayners has emerged as South Africa’s most lethal attacking weapon ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Mamelodi Sundowns forward has transformed from a promising talent into Bafana Bafana’s go-to goalscorer, earning his place in South Africa’s 2026 World Cup squad through consistent domestic dominance and historic performances on the continental stage.
Born in Cape Town on 19 December 1995, Rayners now stands as one of the most feared strikers in the South African Premier Division. His journey from local club Kenpark United to representing his country on football’s biggest global stage is an inspiration to aspiring footballers across Mzansi. At age 30, Rayners is entering his prime years as a striker, making him perfectly positioned to lead South Africa’s attacking line at the 2026 World Cup.
Why Iqraam Rayners Matters for South Africa’s 2026 World Cup Campaign
As Bafana Bafana prepares for the 2026 World Cup, Rayners brings exactly what South Africa needs – clinical finishing and big-game experience. His two-goal haul at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup made history as the first South African player to score multiple goals in a single Club World Cup tournament. That performance against South Korea’s Ulsan HD, where he scored the match-winner, proved he can deliver when it matters most on the international stage.
South African fans heading to the 2026 World Cup will be watching Rayners closely. His ability to find the net against top African opposition, including crucial goals against Algeria, Zimbabwe, Congo, and South Sudan during World Cup and AFCON qualifying, shows he thrives under pressure. The 2026 World Cup will be played across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and Rayners’ pace, strength, and finishing ability make him well-suited for the physical demands of tournament football.
Rayners has already proven himself against some of Africa’s best defenders. His goal against Algeria in Algiers on 26 March 2024 showed his composure in hostile environments. Scoring away from home against a top North African side is no small feat, and that experience will serve South Africa well when they face world-class opposition at the 2026 World Cup.
Personal Information
Date of birth: 19 December 1995 (age 30)
Place of birth: Cape Town, South Africa
Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position: Forward
Current team: Mamelodi Sundowns
Squad number: 13
Youth career: Kenpark United, Santos (under-17 level)
Club Career Journey
Early Career at Santos (2014–2017)
Rayners played youth football with Kenpark United before joining Santos at under-17 level. He made his senior debut for Santos during the 2014–15 season, breaking into professional football at a young age. Over three seasons with the Cape Town-based club, Rayners made 57 league appearances and scored 5 goals. This period was crucial for his development, allowing him to adapt to the physical demands of senior football in South Africa’s top flight.
First Spell at Stellenbosch (2017–2020)
Rayners joined Stellenbosch in 2017 and truly announced himself as a goalscoring threat. Over three seasons, he made 76 league appearances and found the net 35 times. This remarkable goalscoring ratio caught the attention of bigger clubs across South Africa. His movement in the penalty area, ability to finish with both feet, and aerial prowess made him one of the most sought-after strikers in the Premier Division.
Move to SuperSport United (2020–2023)
After signing a pre-contract agreement in January 2020, Rayners joined SuperSport United in the summer of 2020. His time at the Tshwane-based club saw him make 51 league appearances and score 6 goals. While his goalscoring output decreased compared to his Stellenbosch form, Rayners developed other aspects of his game under the guidance of experienced coaches. He learned to hold up play, bring teammates into attacking moves, and work harder defensively – skills that would later benefit both his club and country.
Return to Stellenbosch (2023–2024)
Rayners returned to Stellenbosch FC in 2023 and rediscovered his lethal scoring touch. He used to wear the number nine jersey during this period, a traditional striker’s number that suited his goalscoring mentality. In just one season, he made 38 league appearances and scored an impressive 24 goals. This return to form earned him a recall to the South African national team and attracted interest from the country’s biggest club.
Mamelodi Sundowns (2024–present)
On 22 August 2024, Mamelodi Sundowns signed Rayners from Stellenbosch on a free transfer. The move to South Africa’s most successful club of the modern era represented a significant step up in his career. At Sundowns, Rayners would compete for trophies on multiple fronts, including the CAF Champions League and the domestic league title.
His first season at Sundowns was nothing short of spectacular. Rayners made 37 league appearances and scored 24 goals, maintaining the excellent goalscoring form that earned him the move to Chloorkop. He formed deadly partnerships with Sundowns’ creative midfielders, who provided him with consistent service inside the penalty area.
FIFA Club World Cup Heroics
In June 2025, Rayners was selected in Mamelodi Sundowns’ squad for the FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament featuring the world’s best clubs from each continent. This was Sundowns’ second appearance at the global showpiece, and expectations were high after their CAF Champions League triumph.
On 17 June 2025, Rayners wrote his name into South African football history. He scored the only goal against South Korea’s Ulsan HD, securing Sundowns’ first-ever victory in the FIFA Club World Cup. This historic win marked the first victory for an African side in the tournament after Egypt’s Al Ahly drew their opener and Esperance of Tunisia lost to Flamengo.
Rayners’ goal was a moment of individual brilliance. He latched onto a through ball, held off a defender, and slotted calmly past the Ulsan HD goalkeeper. The celebration that followed showed what it meant to him, his teammates, and the entire nation.
On 21 June 2025, just four days later, Rayners scored his second goal of the tournament. This strike made him the first South African player ever to score two goals in a single FIFA Club World Cup edition. Considering the tournament features only the best clubs from each continent, this achievement places Rayners among elite company in African football history.
His Club World Cup performances were broadcast to millions of viewers worldwide, introducing Rayners to a global audience. Scouts from European clubs took note, though Rayners remained committed to Sundowns and his World Cup dream with South Africa.
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International Career with Bafana Bafana
Rayners made his senior debut for South Africa in 2023, a moment he had dreamed of since childhood. Pulling on the famous yellow and green jersey of Bafana Bafana is the highest honor for any South African footballer, and Rayners has worn it with pride ever since.
To date, he has earned 18 caps for his country and scored 5 international goals. His goalscoring rate of approximately one goal every four games is impressive for a striker who often plays as a lone forward against packed defenses.
International Goals Breakdown
Rayners’ first international goal came on 8 July 2023 against Botswana at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban. His goal helped South Africa secure a 2–1 victory in the 2023 COSAFA Cup, a regional tournament that serves as important preparation for major competitions.
His second goal was arguably his most impressive. On 26 March 2024, away at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers, Algeria, Rayners scored a crucial equalizer as South Africa fought back to draw 3–3 with Algeria in the 2024 FIFA Series. Scoring in North Africa against a top African nation demonstrated his mental strength and quality.
On 11 June 2024, Rayners scored his third international goal, opening the scoring against Zimbabwe at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. South Africa went on to win 3–1 in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match. This goal was particularly important because World Cup qualifying matches carry high stakes, and Rayners delivered when his country needed him most.
His fourth goal came on 11 October 2024 against Congo at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. Rayners scored as South Africa dominated 5–0 in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match. This victory secured valuable points on the road to the AFCON tournament.
Rayners’ fifth and most recent international goal came on 19 November 2024 against South Sudan at Cape Town Stadium. He opened the scoring in a 3–0 victory, again in AFCON qualification. The home crowd at his birthplace celebrated as their local hero found the net.
International Goals Complete List
Goal 1: 8 July 2023 vs Botswana (2–1 win) – 2023 COSAFA Cup at King Zwelithini Stadium, Durban
Goal 2: 26 March 2024 vs Algeria (3–3 draw) – 2024 FIFA Series at Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers
Goal 3: 11 June 2024 vs Zimbabwe (3–1 win) – 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Goal 4: 11 October 2024 vs Congo (5–0 win) – 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
Goal 5: 19 November 2024 vs South Sudan (3–0 win) – 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification at Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town.
Playing Style and Strengths
Standing at 1.76 meters (5 feet 9 inches), Rayners is not the tallest striker in world football, but what he lacks in height he compensates for with low center of gravity, explosive acceleration, and intelligent movement.
His greatest strength is his finishing. Rayners can score with either foot, a rare attribute among strikers at any level. He is equally comfortable shooting first-time from crosses or dribbling past defenders before finishing. His composure inside the penalty area allows him to take an extra touch when needed or shoot quickly when space is limited.
Rayners also possesses excellent link-up play. He drops deep to receive the ball, holds off defenders, and brings attacking midfielders into play. This makes him valuable not only as a goalscorer but also as a facilitator for his teammates. At Sundowns, this aspect of his game has flourished alongside creative players who thrive on his hold-up play.
His work rate off the ball is another underrated attribute. Rayners presses opposing defenders when they have possession, forces errors, and tracks back to help his fullbacks when necessary. Modern football demands that strikers contribute defensively, and Rayners has embraced this responsibility.
Honours and Achievements
Club Honours with Stellenbosch FC
Carling Knockout Cup champion: 2023. This was Stellenbosch’s first major trophy in the club’s history, and Rayners played a crucial role throughout the knockout competition.
Club Honours with Mamelodi Sundowns
CAF Champions League champion: 2025–26. Sundowns defeated Africa’s best clubs to claim continental glory, with Rayners contributing crucial goals along the way.
CAF Champions League runner-up: 2024–25. Sundowns finished as runners-up in Rayners’ first season at the club, providing valuable experience for their title-winning campaign the following year.
South African Premiership champion: 2024–25. Rayners won his first domestic league title with Sundowns, adding a championship medal to his collection.
Individual Honours
Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament: 2023. Rayners was recognized as the best player in South Africa’s premier knockout cup competition, a testament to his match-winning abilities.
First South African player to score two goals in a single FIFA Club World Cup tournament: 2025. This historic achievement cannot be overstated – no South African player had ever accomplished this feat before Rayners.
What to Expect at the 2026 World Cup
South Africa’s 2026 World Cup squad will rely heavily on Rayners’ goalscoring abilities. The tournament will be held across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the first World Cup to feature 48 teams. This expanded format gives African nations like South Africa a better chance to advance beyond the group stage.
Rayners will likely lead the line as a lone striker or partner with another forward, depending on the formation South Africa’s coach chooses. His experience at the FIFA Club World Cup, where he faced champions from every continent, will be invaluable when Bafana Bafana face world-class defenders from Europe and South America.
South African fans traveling to North America for the 2026 World Cup will bring high expectations. Rayners has already proven he can score on big occasions – his Club World Cup goals, his strikes in World Cup qualifying, and his goals against top African nations all point to a player who thrives under pressure.
If Rayners scores at the 2026 World Cup, he will join an elite group of South African players who have found the net at football’s greatest tournament. Benni McCarthy, Siphiwe Tshabalala, and Bongani Zungu are among the few who have achieved this honor. Rayners has the quality, experience, and mentality to add his name to that list.
Career Statistics Summary
Club career totals (all competitions):
Santos (2014–2017): 57 appearances, 5 goals
Stellenbosch (2017–2020): 76 appearances, 35 goals
SuperSport United (2020–2023): 51 appearances, 6 goals
Stellenbosch (2023–2024): 38 appearances, 24 goals
Mamelodi Sundowns (2024–present): 37 appearances, 24 goals
Professional career total: 259 appearances, 94 goals
International career (2023–present): 18 caps, 5 goals
