MOROCCO

One of the main characters in Morocco’s deep run at Qatar 2022, Yassine Bounou is a fan favourite. Born in Montreal but raised in Casablanca, “Bono” loves the game and has a special affection for River Plate despite an early soft spot for their rivals. “When I was young I always followed football in South America, particularly Boca Juniors,” he said. His love for River would grow while he was at Atlético Madrid, where Diego Simeone (the former River manager) and Germán “Mono” Burgos (the former River goalkeeper) were in the dugout. Bono has even named his dog “Ariel” in an homage to River’s iconic No 10, Ariel Ortega. After nine years - and nearly 160 La Liga games - in Spain, Bounou moved to Saudi Arabia and Al-Hilal in 2023.

Last year’s African footballer of the year, Hakimi is considered the best right-back in the game and perhaps the first Moroccan superstar. But off the pitch the 27-year-old confirmed in February that he would face trial after being accused of rape in 2023 He denies the allegations. "Today, a rape accusation is enough to justify a trial," Hakimi said on social media. "This is as unjust to the innocent as it is to the genuine victims. I calmly await this trial, which will allow the truth to come out publicly." One of the key players of PSG’s first Champions League title in 2025, Hakimi still has a close friendship with Kylian Mbappé, his former teammate now at Real Madrid. “He was the one who helped me with my French when I first got to Paris,” he said.

The protagonist of January’s controversial Afcon final, winning the dubious late penalty that caused Senegal’s players to leave the pitch in protest and then failing miserably with his Panenka once they had returned. The next day Díaz expressed remorse, stating that his “soul ached” and took full responsibility for the defeat that was eventually overturned by Caf, pending Senegal’s appeal. The penalty miss came after a sensational first tournament for Díaz, who admitted the moment will be hard to overcome and vowed to keep fighting “not for me, but for everyone who believed in me”. The decision of Díaz, playing week in week out for Real Madrid, to switch to Morocco from Spain in 2024 was a significant breakthrough. Born in Malaga to a Moroccan father, Díaz never shies away when he’s asked about his allegiance. “I am 100% Moroccan and 100% Spanish. I love both countries,” he told Cadena Ser in 2024.