From a Kopa Trophy nomination to a statement at the World Cup: the rise of Ayyoub Bouaddi

The 2025 Kopa Trophy nominee made his mark on the biggest stage by securing a draw against Brazil. He did so wearing the Morocco shirt, not the France one.

At 18, Ayyoub Bouaddi is packing a career’s worth of achievements into just a few months. A product of the LOSC Lille academy, the midfielder has gone from being one of Europe’s most closely watched teenagers to making international headlines in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup. After representing France at youth level, he received FIFA’s authorisation in May 2026 to switch allegiance to Morocco, and celebrated his arrival in front of a global audience against Brazil.

The 2025 Kopa Trophy nomination

The foundations were laid in the second half of 2025. After impressing with Lille in Ligue 1 and in Europe, including a start against Real Madrid on his 17th birthday in a 1-0 victory, Bouaddi was nominated for the Kopa Trophy at the 2025 Ballon d’Or gala. Ranked among the world’s best Under-21 players, with Lamine Yamal leading the way, the nomination recognised his tactical maturity and composure under pressure rather than his goals or dribbling ability.

Morocco’s decision

Closely monitored by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, the Senlis-born midfielder opted for Morocco shortly before the tournament. In May 2026, the relevant FIFA body approved his change of sporting nationality, and he was included in Morocco’s 26-man squad for the World Cup.

The test against Brazil

On 13 June 2026, in Morocco’s Group C opener at MetLife Stadium, manager Mohamed Ouahbi handed the 18-year-old a starting place in midfield against Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil. Bouaddi rose to the occasion. Calm alongside Neil El Aynaoui, he stood his ground against players such as Bruno Guimarães and Lucas Paquetá. Ismael Saibari put Morocco ahead before Vinícius Júnior equalised to make it 1-1. The Brazilian striker was officially named man of the match, but Bouaddi’s control, precise distribution and movement in the creative zone earned him the title of man of the match from several media outlets and almost unanimous praise. It was his first competitive match for Morocco and his World Cup debut.

A modern midfielder

With Morocco set to face Scotland on matchday two, the spotlight is now on the Lille midfielder. The football world is discovering what the Kopa jury already knew back in 2025.