Morocco's Ayoub Bouaddi has continued to write his name into the record books at the 2026 World Cup, becoming the second-youngest player to appear in a quarter-final match in the tournament's history, at 18 years and 280 days old. He trails only Brazilian legend Pelé, who played in the quarter-final of the 1958 World Cup against Wales at the age of 17 years and 239 days.
The historic milestone came as the Lille midfielder started for the Atlas Lions against France at Boston stadium. Bouaddi also became the first African player to feature in five World Cup matches while still a teenager, according to Opta, adding yet another achievement to his burgeoning international career.
Bouaddi has established himself as one of the standout discoveries of the 2026 World Cup through his impressive performances in Morocco's midfield, displaying remarkable maturity in controlling the tempo of play and linking the lines despite his young age, helping Morocco reach the quarter-finals for only the second time in their history.
FIFA has included Bouaddi on the shortlist of leading candidates for the Best Young Player award at the 2026 World Cup, alongside France's Désiré Doué, England's Nico O'Reilly, and Spain's Lamine Yamal, following a series of eye-catching displays throughout Morocco's run in the tournament.
Bouaddi's statistics reflect his growing importance in the Moroccan national team setup, and they raise hopes that he could become one of the brightest stars in world football in the years ahead, having joined the select list of players to make an exceptional impact at the World Cup at a young age — a list headed by Pelé, one of the greatest legends the game has ever seen.