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Moroccan Players Shine in FIFA Power Rankings for 2026 World Cup
๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Morocco /Sports

Moroccan Players Shine in FIFA Power Rankings for 2026 World Cup

From Hespress · () Arabic

Translated from Arabic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Moroccan players have made a significant impact in the FIFA Power Rankings for the 2026 World Cup, with notable appearances by Ismael Saibari, Achraf Hakimi, and Yassine Bounou.
  • Saibari ranked 14th among midfielders, Hakimi 9th among defenders, and Bounou 10th among goalkeepers, highlighting Morocco's strong collective performance.
  • The FIFA Power Rankings, introduced for the first time in this World Cup, use a new data-driven system to objectively assess player performance based on match statistics.

Moroccan players are shining in the individual rankings for the 2026 World Cup, with a notable presence in the FIFA Power Rankings. Ismael Saibari, Achraf Hakimi, and Yassine Bounou have all been recognized among the best in their respective positions, underscoring the team's strong collective performance throughout the tournament.

Ismael Saibari secured the 14th position among the top midfielders, earning an average of 6.51 points. His ranking reflects a balanced contribution to both offensive and defensive play, as well as his creativity in build-up play, making him the highest-ranked Moroccan midfielder. In the defense category, Achraf Hakimi claimed the ninth spot with an average of 6.97 points, reaffirming his status as one of the tournament's leading defenders through his impressive performances at both ends of the field.

Yassine Bounou ranked tenth among goalkeepers, achieving an average of 7.01 points. His ranking is attributed to his crucial saves and influential presence between the posts, maintaining his position among the tournament's elite goalkeepers. The presence of Moroccan players across multiple key positions, goalkeeper, defense, and midfield, highlights the overall quality and teamwork displayed by the Atlas Lions.

The FIFA Power Rankings, launched for the first time during the 2026 World Cup, employ a new individual evaluation system based on data and statistics extracted from matches. This system aims to provide an objective assessment of player performance. Field players receive scores between zero and ten points across offensive, creative, and defensive metrics, while goalkeepers are evaluated on their shot-stopping and ball-playing abilities. The rankings are updated after each match, reflecting both individual match performance and cumulative progress throughout the tournament. Morocco reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup and is set to face France.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hespress in Arabic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.