Morocco’s promising young midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has received praise from former England captain and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard after an eye-catching display against Brazil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 18-year-old midfielder was one of the standout performers in Morocco’s 1-1 draw with the five-time world champions in New York, helping the Atlas Lions earn a valuable point in their opening Group C fixture.
Bouaddi’s mature display in the heart of midfield attracted widespread attention, but it was Gerrard’s reaction that highlighted just how impressive the teenager’s performance had been on one of football’s biggest stages.
For Morocco and African football, the performance offered another indication that the Atlas Lions possess a new generation capable of competing with the world’s strongest nations.
The Lille midfielder was making only the first senior international appearance of his career after recently switching his international allegiance to Morocco.
Despite his age and relative inexperience at international level, he played with composure against a Brazil side packed with established stars.
Gerrard admitted the teenager quickly became one of the players he focused on during the contest.
“Such brilliant performances from the young teenager, honestly the kid performance caught my attention in the second half of the game and started wondering how he’s this good.
“Such performance at an age like this is always mind blowing to watch especially against this Brazilian side, that’s why it’s truly remarkable. Wish if Liverpool could have keep an eye on him throughout the tournament and get him sign after. His transition and how he controls the midfield is something every club will need in their midfield just like Vitinha.”
The comments came after Bouaddi helped Morocco match Brazil for long periods in a high-quality encounter.
The Atlas Lions opened the scoring through Ismael Saibari in the 21st minute before Vinicius Junior equalised for Brazil 11 minutes later. While the goals grabbed the headlines during the match, Bouaddi’s influence became increasingly apparent as the game progressed.
His ability to handle the intensity of a World Cup fixture against one of football’s traditional powerhouses impressed many observers, particularly given his age.
The France-born midfielder only recently committed his international future to Morocco after progressing through France’s youth system. He had represented France Under-21 as recently as March before deciding to join the Atlas Lions setup.
Bouaddi’s emergence reflects Morocco’s continued success in attracting talented dual-national players and integrating them into a squad that has become one of Africa’s strongest footballing nations.
Although only 18 years old, he already possesses considerable experience at club level.
Since making his Lille debut during the 2023-24 season, he has accumulated dozens of appearances in Ligue 1 and gained exposure to European competition.
His display against Brazil is likely to strengthen expectations surrounding his future, particularly after receiving public recognition from a player widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders of his generation.
For Morocco, the teenager’s performance could prove equally important. The Atlas Lions entered the tournament hoping to demonstrate that their remarkable rise in recent years was no accident, and Bouaddi’s contribution suggested the team possesses both present quality and future promise.
Morocco continue their Group C campaign against Scotland on June 19 before facing Haiti five days later.
If Bouaddi can replicate his Brazil performance, the teenager may continue to attract attention far beyond Morocco and Africa as the World Cup progresses.
