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Morocco's Ayoub Bouaddi among FIFA Young Player Award contenders at 2026 World Cup
via Le Matin2 min read
Ayoub Bouaddi, a key midfielder for Morocco, is a leading candidate for the FIFA Young Player Award at the 2026 World Cup. After initial mixed performances against Scotland and Haiti, Bouaddi became central to Morocco's midfield in matches against the Netherlands and Canada, demonstrating strong ball recovery, effective distribution, and tenacity in duels. The FIFA website highlighted Bouaddi as a top contender alongside Lamine Yamal Spain, Désiré Doué France, and Nico O’Reilly England, noting their remarkable performances throughout the competition. FIFA stated that these young talents have already established themselves among the sport's elite, with Bouaddi, Doué, O'Reilly, and Yamal reinforcing their chances for the award after helping their nations advance to the next round. The award recognizes the best player born on or after January 1, 2005. FIFA described Bouaddi as the "true conductor" of Morocco's midfield, impressing with his on-field maturity and off-field achievements, including winning an eloquence competition at 15, earning his baccalaureate at 16, and currently studying mathematics. This intelligence is reflected in his composed play, complemented by surprising physical power for his age, which was evident in Morocco's 3-0 victory over co-host Canada in the round of 16.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
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