Progress report: Ayyoub Bouaddi and other promising young Arab players
Just before the 2026 Fifa World Cup, The National picked five youngsters from the Middle East and North Africa who could make an impact at the global finals. Three months later, we check in on where the players are and how they are developing. Two are now on the shortlist for one of football’s most prestigious youth awards, the 2026 Kopa Trophy; two are fighting for minutes at their clubs while…
Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco) is now 18 and playing for Manchester City after a massive €100 million transfer from Lille. He impressed in North America and earned a start in the UEFA Champions League against Porto, completing all 55 of his passes in a 2-0 win. Bouaddi has been named in Morocco's squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Ibrahim Maza (Algeria) at 20 years old has been a standout player for Bayer Leverkusen, earning a spot on the Kopa Trophy shortlist. After a poor start to the season, Leverkusen is considering extending his contract and increasing his salary. Maza's performance against Union Berlin led to a man of the match award and a crucial assist.
Hamza Abdelkarim (Egypt), 18 years old, signed a new contract with Barcelona until 2030 after a strong pre-season in which he became the club’s top scorer with four goals in five games. The late arrival of Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal has pushed Abdelkarim further down the pecking order, but he's held in high regard by coach Hossam Hassan for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
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