𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

After switching international allegiance from Spain, the country of his birth, Brahim Diaz only made his Morocco debut in March 2024. Yet he has taken to African football like a duck to water.

His goal against Cameroon continued his superb record of scoring in all of the hosts’ games at this tournament — five in five, though that became five in six after he blanked in the semi-final against Nigeria — his tally for Morocco is now 13 in 21 appearances.

Brahim’s performances have not been limited to just goalscoring either. He waltzed around the pitch in Rabat with a particular swagger, starting on the right of Morocco’s front three where he would routinely cut inside, find himself in attacking midfield positions, dribble at speed and turn away from tackles.

The Real Madrid forward forced defenders to commit and often foul him in dangerous areas.

Had it not been for the performances of Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman and Calvin Bassey, Brahim would be running away with the player of the tournament award.