Morocco vs Brazil: Atlas Lions ratings, Bouaddi shines

The draw between Morocco and Brazil left a very positive impression in parts of the sports press. Beyond the result, obtained against one of the competition’s favorites, it was especially the collective performance of the Atlas Lions that was noted, with a team capable of competing in intensity, technique and organization.

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The big name of the evening is Ayyoub Bouaddi. In his first World Cup match with Morocco, the young LOSC midfielder made an impression. Rated 7.5 by some of the press, 8 by L’Équipe and Maxifoot, and even 9 by Le360, he is presented as one of the best players of the match. His ability to recover, to project forward and to play ahead impressed. Several media outlets also highlight his maturity, surprising for a player of only 18 years old.

Noussair Mazraoui also received very good ratings. Maxifoot even makes him the man of the match with an 8/10. The Moroccan fullback was praised for his activity on the left flank, his defensive solidity and his role in Morocco’s goal action. Le360 also gives him an 8, believing he confirmed his importance in the Moroccan setup.

Ismael Saibari also comes out strengthened from this encounter. Lined up at the tip of the attack, he justified this choice by opening the scoring with a superb chip in front of Alisson. Rated 7 by several media outlets and 8 by Le360, he was appreciated for his composure, his pressing and his ability to weigh in a role that is not necessarily his natural position.

Brahim Diaz was also well judged. Provider of the assist on Saibari’s goal, the Real Madrid player was very active in the first half. The media highlight his technical quality, his game vision and his desire to take responsibility, even if some criticize him for sometimes wanting to do too much.

Morocco’s defense generally held up, but opinions are more nuanced. Yassine Bounou receives decent ratings, between 5.5 and 6.5. He cannot really be held responsible for Vinicius Jr’s equalizer and made several important interventions, even if his distribution sometimes lacked precision.

Chadi Riad is judged solid and reassuring. The Crystal Palace defender showed serenity in duels and distribution. Issa Diop, on the other hand, was more criticized. Several media outlets mention dangerous distribution, hesitations and sometimes fragile positioning. L’Équipe and Maxifoot notably give him a rating of 4.

Achraf Hakimi divides more. Le360 gives him a very high rating, 8.5, praising a very high-level match in his corridor. Other observers are more severe, believing he sometimes played with too much certainty, committed many fouls and lacked defensive clarity, particularly on Brazil’s equalizer.

In midfield, Neil El Aynaoui is generally praised for his game volume, his activity and his defensive work. Azzedine Ounahi receives more mixed reviews. While he showed his technical quality at times, several media outlets believe he did not weigh enough in offensive play. Bilal El Khannouss, meanwhile, was judged serious, available and generous in his efforts.

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Ultimately, the press retains one main thing: Morocco not only resisted Brazil, it showed it could compete with them. With a Bouaddi already presented as a revelation, a Mazraoui at world level and a decisive Saibari, the Atlas Lions emerge from this first clash with certainties, despite a few points to correct.