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20 Best Moroccan Football (Soccer) Players of All Time

Originally published by Ronny in October 2022 and Updated by Ian S in May 2024.

The Atlas Lions is a national football team of Morocco. It’s controlled by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). The team’s colors are green and red. It’s a member of FIFA and the African Football Confederation (CAF).

Morocco has won various international tournaments, such as the African Cup of Nations, FIFA Arab Cup, and two African Nations Championships. They also participated in six FIFA World Cup tournaments.

In 1986, they became the first African team to finish as the group winner. Morocco is expected to participate in the 2022 World Cup Competitions in Qatar.

Let us look at some Best Moroccan Players playing for the nation and those who played before;

1. Hakim Ziyech

Morocco forwards Hakim Ziyech. Picture By 袗薪褌芯薪 袟邪泄褑械胁.

Football fans will be the first to identify this name whenever it is discussed. Ziyech, a professional football player who plays as an offensive midfielder or winger for Premier League club Chelsea and the Moroccan national team, was born on March 19, 1993.

Football player Hakim is excellent and well-known for his finishing, dribbling, long passes, technique, and free-kick prowess. He represented Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where he scored numerous goals that solidified his position on the team and helped Morocco reach the World Cup. Ziyech has represented European clubs like Twente, Heerenveen, and Ajax and as of 2022, he is a player for Chelsea in London.

He has earned prestigious honors including the UEFA Champion League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Club, runner-up in the FA Cup and EFL, as well as numerous Man of the Match awards. His playing technique has generated a $40 million market value. One of Ziyech’s best skills is the dip with which he plays those balls into the area because it not only frequently results in clear-cut opportunities for his teammate but also teases the opposing goalkeeper by appearing to float through to them but instead dropping short into the area in front of the goal. Ziyech has great ball control, which results in a lot of opportunities for his team.

Instead of moving down the line to cross, he can easily shake off an opponent’s attention thanks to his remarkable balance, speed, and acceleration and create possibilities for shots. Ziyech has been selected as one of the athletes to represent Morocco at the 2022 World Cup.   

2. Achraf Hakimi

Achraf Hakimi in Action against Portugal. Picture By 袗薪褌芯薪.

Achraf Hakimi, a Moroccan professional football player for Paris Saint-Germain and the Moroccan national team, was born on November 4, 1998. Although he occasionally also plays as an offensive full-back, his primary position is right-back.

He has received significant honors in the Serie A League, Supercup, and UEFA Champions League. Hakimi is described as a right-sided offensive full-back or wing-back who can play long, accurate passes from the defense and is swift, dynamic, and strong. He is also tactically and technically astute.

Hakim was trained as a winger, but because of his size, he can also play defense. He is regarded by many pundits as one of the best defenders and right-backs in world football. Hakimi has aided his country Morocco through tough matches since his debut made his full international debut on 11 October 2016, coming on as a  substitute for  Fouad Chafik in a 4鈥�0 win against  Canada.

His speed, long passes, and creating chances to score, have seen him called upon for international duties to present his country in Qatar World Cup in 2022.

3. Youssef El-Arab

Morocco is a country with real football skills. Youssef El- Arabi, a professional football player who plays as a striker for the Moroccan national team and Greek Super League club Olympiacos, was born on February 3, 1987.

El-Arabi, a Moroccan-born athlete who was born in France, made his international debut in 2010.  In Olympiacos and other teams he has played for, he is renowned for having a sizable quantity of hat-tricks.

He debuted for his nation on September 5, 2010. He triumphs in major awards like The Super League and Qatar Stars League are two notable prizes. In addition, he holds personal records for scoring more goals than any other player in Olympiacos’ history in European tournaments and became Morocco’s all-time leading scorer in European Cups with 17 goals.

Youssef is one of the players who is anticipated to play for Morocco during the World Cup 2022, as his nation has qualified for the tournament.

4. Sofiane Boufal

Soufiane Boufal. Picture By Mohammed Ayman Nechchad.

Indeed, Morocco has made progress in producing the best footballers on the African Continent, Sofiane Boufal being one of them. A professional footballer, he was born on September 17, 1993.

For Ligue 1 team Angers, he can play as a winger or as an offensive midfielder. He represents the national team of Morocco and was born in France. His creativity, vision, passing, finishing, dribbling, feints, touch, and technique are his key strengths.

On March 26, 2016, Boufal started for the Moroccan first squad in a 1-0 win over Cape Verde in an African Cup of Nations Qualification match. Boufal participated in the 2019 African Cup of Nations on behalf of Morocco. One of Morocco’s top football players, Sofiane, is anticipated to play in the matches now that the country has qualified for the 2022 World Cup.

5. Romain Saiss

Romain Saiss. Picture By Westpress Kaliningrad.

Romain Ghanem Paul Sass is a Moroccan professional footballer who currently plays for Super Lig team Besiktas. He was born in France and is the captain of Morocco’s national squad.

Sass began his career at Valence, then moved on to Le Havre and Clermont in Ligue 2, then Angers in Ligue 1 before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2016.

Sass has been a full international for Morocco since 2012. He represents his country in three African Cup of Nations tournaments at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Sass relocated to Turkey on June 14, 2022, joining Super Lig team Besiktas. He has presented Morocco with a number of certifications. His physicality long passes, and scoring with his head has propelled him to the forefront of the game the world’s finest defenders. Among his awards are the EFL Championship with Wolves and the Angers Player of the Season. He is one of the defenders anticipated to play in the World Cup.

6. Noussair Mazraoui

Mazraoui, born 14 November 1997, is a Moroccan professional footballer who now plays for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Moroccan national team. Noussair began his career at Ajax, then on May 24, 2022, Mazraoui signed a four-year contract with Bayern Munich, beginning on July 1, 2022. Mazraoui was a Moroccan youth international. In 2018, he made his Moroccan national team debut.

Mazraoui is definitely best suited to the inverted right-back position, which is frequently employed in possession-based back-four teams. Because he is so comfortable inhabiting a wide range of locations, the quality of his on- and off-ball performance benefits from this inside, deeper positions.

It’s the position where he can continue to get the most out of his attacking runs. Where he can still excel, and he can still get more out of his crossover. In 2019 and 2021, he won the domestic double of league and cup, before capturing the Eredivisie title again in 2022. Because of their experience, the excellent right-back is one of the players likely to feature in the World Cup.

7. Ezzaki Badou

Badou Ezaki. Picture By mustapha_ennaimi.

Zaki was born in Siddi kacem on April 2, 1959. Zaki represented Morocco in the 1986 FIFA World Cup as well as four Africa Cup of Nations. He helped his country reach the round of 16 in the last edition, which was hosted in Mexico.

It may interest you to know that after retiring as a player, Zaki managed 11 teams as well as the Moroccan national team twice; once from 2002 to 2005 and again from 2014 to 2016.

He is the fourth most popular capped Moroccan footballer to date, along with another Moroccan footballer, Houssine Kharja, who has 78 caps. Badou is regarded as the best African goalie and one of the greatest Moroccan footballers of all time.

8. Abderrahmane Mahjoub

Abderrahmane Mahjoub (born 25 April 1929 鈥� 31 August 2011) was a French and Moroccan international football midfielder.

In his playing days, he was known as Prince du Parc (Prince of the Park) for his dominant control of the midfield. He was one of the best Arab players of his period, and one of the few who graced the sports grounds of Europe in the 1950s and 1960s.

Mahjoub began playing on the streets of Casablanca with his brother Mohamed, who eventually played for Olympique Marseille in the late 1940s. His prowess in the midfield gained him a spot on the Moroccan national team.

After he retired as a player, once from 1963 to 1967 and again from 1972 to 1973. He died in August 2011 at the age of 82, and in 2006, CAF named him one of the top 200 African footballers in the previous 50 years.

9. Aziz Bouderbala

Another midfielder on the list of the best Moroccan footballers of all time is Abdelaziz El Idrissi Bouderbala. He better known as Aziz Bouderbala in the football world is a 61-year-old retired Moroccan footballer who played for mostly European clubs, including Lyon and Racing Club Paris, during his career.

He was actually a better goal scorer than Abdelmajid Dolmy, having scored 57 goals in 249 league outings. Aziz also scored 14 goals in 61 appearances for the Moroccan national team between 1979 and 1992, making him Morocco’s 10th all-time leading scorer.

He was also a member of the Moroccan national squad that advanced to the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Finally, CAF designated Bouderbala one of the top 200 African footballers of the last 50 years.

10. Sofyan Ambrabat

Sofyan Amrabat, born August 21, 1996, is a Moroccan professional footballer who currently plays for Seria A team Fiorentina. He was born in the Netherlands and plays for Morocco’s national team.

In 2010, he represented the Netherlands at the youth level before switching allegiance to Morocco’s young national team in 2013, where he has since represented them at the senior level.

Amrabat began his senior career at Utrecht in 2014 before moving to Feyenoord in 2017. After one season, he joined Club Brugge before being loaned to Hellas Verona in Italy in 2019.

Amrabat later represented Morocco’s under-17 national team at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He made his senior debut for Morocco in a 1-0 friendly victory over Tunisia. He was nominated to Morocco’s 23-man team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia in May 2018. With his expertise, he has been picked as one of the players to represent Morocco at the World Cup in 2022.

11. Medhi Benatia

, CC BY-SA 3.0 GFDL, via Wikimedia Commons

You can’t discuss the best Moroccan soccer players without mentioning Medhi Benatia. This former professional center-back left an indelible mark on the game, cementing his legacy through tenures in France, Italy, and Germany.

 Benatia’s journey began at Marseille, where he honed his skills before making his mark at clubs like Udinese, Roma, and Bayern Munich.

However, his proudest moments came while representing Morocco, as he captained his nation to their first World Cup appearance in 20 years at the 2018 tournament.

Benatia’s leadership and defensive prowess were instrumental in Morocco’s success, earning him 66 international caps and a place among the country’s all-time greats.

After winning numerous domestic titles with Juventus, Benatia hung up his boots in 2021, transitioning seamlessly into a sporting director role at Marseille, the club where his remarkable career began.

12. Younes Belhanda

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It’s not an exaggeration to rank Youn猫s Belhanda among the best Moroccan soccer players. This attacking midfielder has left an indelible mark on the game, showcasing his talents for both club and country.

Belhanda’s journey began at a young age when he was scouted by renowned French clubs like Lyon and Marseille, ultimately choosing to hone his skills at Montpellier.

His performances caught the eye of the Moroccan national team, and he played a pivotal role in their 2018 World Cup campaign, starting all three group-stage matches in Russia.

With his vision, creativity, and technical prowess, Belhanda has etched his name in Moroccan football history, inspiring a new generation of talented playmakers to follow in his footsteps.

13. Nordin Amrabat

, CC BY-SA 3.0 GFDL, via Wikimedia Commons

It goes without saying that Nordin Amrabat is among the best Moroccan soccer players of his generation. This dynamic winger has left an indelible mark on the game, representing both the Netherlands and Morocco at the highest levels.

Though born in the Netherlands, Amrabat chose to pledge his allegiance to the Moroccan national team in 2009, a decision that paved the way for his participation in two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the 2012 Olympics.

With his blistering pace, dribbling skills, and eye for goal, Amrabat has etched his name in Moroccan football lore, inspiring a new generation of talented wingers to follow in his footsteps.

Currently plying his trade for AEK Athens in Greece, this trailblazer continues to showcase his talents on the European stage.

14. Mustapha Hadji 

, , via Wikimedia Commons

One of the most celebrated names in Moroccan soccer, Mustapha Hadji stands tall among the nation’s greatest players. This midfield maestro etched his name in football folklore with his sublime skill and unwavering determination.

Hadji’s impact on the international stage was undeniable, as he represented Morocco in three World Cups, including iconic performances at the 1994 and 1998 tournaments.

His equalizing assist against the Netherlands in 1994 and a stunning goal against Norway four years later showcased his ability to rise to the occasion. Hadji’s prowess did not go unnoticed, as he was named the 50th greatest African player of all time and earned the prestigious African Footballer of the Year award in 1998.

With 13 World Cup qualifying appearances under his belt, Hadji’s legacy as a Moroccan soccer icon is etched in stone.

15. Marouane Chamakh

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Legendary is the only word befitting Marouane Chamakh’s status among the greatest Moroccan soccer players. This towering forward left an indelible mark on the game with his imposing stature, deft link-up play, and lethal heading ability. 

Chamakh’s journey began at Bordeaux, where he etched his name as the club’s 11th-highest goalscorer, guiding them to the Coupe de la Ligue triumph in 2007 and a league and cup double in 2008-09.

His exploits caught the eye of Arsenal, and Chamakh made history with the Gunners, becoming the first player to score in six consecutive Champions League matches.

On the international stage, the France-born striker proudly represented Morocco, featuring in three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, including their runners-up finish in 2004.

Chamakh’s leadership qualities shone through as he captained the national team, cementing his legacy as a true Moroccan icon.

16. Adel Taarabt

, CC BY-SA 3.0 GFDL, via Wikimedia Commons

There is no way you can name the greatest Moroccan soccer player without mentioning Adel Taarabt. This attacking midfielder has left an indelible mark on the game, showcasing his talents across Europe’s top leagues.

Taarabt’s journey began in France with Lens before he made the move to the English Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur in 2007. His loan stint at Queens Park Rangers proved pivotal, as he later signed permanently and quickly established himself as a fan favorite at Loftus Road.

Taarabt’s skill and flair caught the eye of the Moroccan national team, earning him his debut in 2009 and a place in their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations squad.

With stints at Fulham, AC Milan, Benfica, and Genoa, this talented playmaker has graced some of the world’s most prestigious clubs, cementing his status as a true icon of Moroccan soccer.

17. Ahmed Faras

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

It fits perfectly to include Ahmed Faras among the greatest Moroccan soccer players of all time. This prolific striker left an indelible mark on the game, both at the club and international level. 

Faras spent an incredible 17 years with Chabab Mohamm茅dia, winning the Moroccan League in 1981 and finishing as the top scorer in 1969 and 1973. His exploits caught the attention of the national team, where he donned the captain’s armband for eight consecutive years starting in 1971.

Faras’ leadership and goalscoring prowess propelled Morocco to the 1976 African Cup of Nations triumph, cementing his status as a national icon.

With 36 goals in 94 appearances for his country, including appearances at the 1970 World Cup and 1972 Olympics, Faras’ impact on Moroccan soccer is undeniable. Fittingly, he was named African Footballer of the Year in 1975 and selected among CAF’s 200 greatest African players.

18. Youssef En-Nesyri

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Stars are born to illuminate the path for others, and Youssef En-Nesyri shines as one of the brightest among Moroccan soccer players. This prolific striker has etched his name in the annals of Spanish football, representing prestigious clubs like M谩laga, Legan茅s, and Sevilla with unwavering dedication.

En-Nesyri’s prowess on the pitch has seen him amass over 200 appearances in La Liga, a testament to his skill and consistency.

Yet, his impact extends far beyond the club level, as he has donned the coveted Moroccan jersey with pride, earning call-ups to the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, as well as the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023.

At just 18, he made his international debut, showcasing a precocious talent that promises to inspire generations of Moroccan footballers to come.

19.  Salaheddine Bassir

Gems are hard to come by in the world of soccer, but Salaheddine Bassir shone brightly as one of the Best Moroccan soccer players.

The former professional striker left his mark on clubs across the globe, from Raja Club Athletic to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia and Deportivo La Coru帽a in Spain, where he won La Liga and the Copa del Rey titles. 

His talents were further showcased at OSC Lille in France and Aris Thessaloniki in Greece. Bassir’s prowess extended to the international stage, as he represented Morocco at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, memorably scoring a brace against Scotland in a 3-0 victory.

He also tormented France with two goals in the Hassan II Trophy final, cementing his status as a Moroccan legend.

20. Mohamed Timoumi 

Talents like Mohamed Timoumi are rare gems in the world of soccer. The Moroccan former footballer, who played as an attacking midfielder, etched his name among the Best Moroccan soccer players through his exceptional skills and accolades.

In 1985, Timoumi was named African Footballer of the Year, becoming the last player to win this prestigious award while playing club football in an African country. His talent was further recognized by CAF, who selected him as one of the top 200 African football players of the last 50 years in 2006.

 Timoumi’s international exploits included representing Morocco at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, where his performances helped the team become the first Arab and African nation to reach the second round.

 At the club level, he won the CAF Champions League with FAR Rabat, cementing his legacy as a true Moroccan soccer icon.