Ayoub El Kaabi

Forward · Morocco · #20

2026 FIFA World Cup Player Profile

Who Is Ayoub El Kaabi?

Ayoub El Kaabi stands as Morocco’s most lethal attacking weapon poised to make his FIFA World Cup debut in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026. Aged 32, the 6-foot forward—outfitted in the iconic #20 jersey—combines clinical finishing with relentless pressing, traits that have already left indelible marks in the Saudi Pro League with Al Wehda and across multiple African Cup of Nations campaigns. His impending World Cup bow arrives at a generational crossroads for the Atlas Lions, marking the first time that Morocco will showcase a squad that includes a player with UEFA Champions League final experience in its ranks, elevating expectations of a deep run on North American soil.

Early Life and Childhood

Born on June 25, 1993, in the Moroccan capital of Rabat, Ayoub El Kaabi grew up in the working-class district of Hay El Fath, where football was both a passion and an escape. His father, Lahoucine El Kaabi, worked as a municipal gardener while his mother, Khadija, nurtured the family with modest means, instilling the values of discipline and humility that would later define his approach to the game. From an early age, the young Ayoub spent countless hours on the concrete pitches of Rabat, often barefoot and under the glow of street lights, perfecting a left-footed strike that would become his signature. His uncle, a former amateur midfielder, recognized his talent and took him to trials with local sides, planting the seeds for what would become an unlikely journey from Rabat’s municipal leagues to global football stages. The family’s modest lifestyle was punctuated by financial strains, and El Kaabi has frequently referenced the sacrifices his parents made, including cleaning football boots for his youth teams to help offset costs.

El Kaabi’s upbringing in a football-crazy nation steeped in African, Arab and Berber traditions shaped his identity. Rabat’s Stade de FAR, home of FAR Rabat, became a second home; the club’s historic ties to the Moroccan military resonated with his father’s admiration for discipline and duty. Inspirations shifted between African legends such as Didier Drogba and domestic figures like Abdeljalil Hadda, whose goal-scoring feats for Morocco at the 1998 World Cup captivated the nation. Yet it was rap music—not football—that first channelled his emotions. Writing verses about football heroes and life in Rabat, El Kaabi nearly pursued a career in music before his raw athletic talent drew the attention of sports educators at age 14.

Youth Career

El Kaabi began his formal football journey in 2006 at AS Salé, a club in the Casablanca suburb of Salé, where he spent two seasons refining his technique and physicality. The academy’s director, former Moroccan international Khalid Fouhami, spotted his quick feet and striking ability and personally oversaw his development. By 2008, he joined the esteemed youth ranks of FAR Rabat, a move funded by a local sponsor after his parents could not afford the club fees. Within FAR’s academy, he played alongside future professionals including Yunis Abdelhamid and later captained the under-19 side to the Moroccan Youth League title in the 2010–11 season, striking 18 goals in 21 matches. His performances earned him a senior contract in June 2013, four days before his 20th birthday, and a loan to Ittihad Tanger in the Botola Pro, where he made his professional debut in August 2013 under coach Jamal Sellami.

Professional Club Career

The loan to Ittihad Tanger was transformative. Playing in the Moroccan top flight, El Kaabi matured rapidly under the watchful eye of Sellami, scoring four goals in 15 league appearances during the 2013–14 season. His left-foot shot against Wydad Casablanca in December 2013, a curling effort from outside the box, announced his arrival on the national stage. He returned to FAR Rabat for the 2014–15 season and became a first-team regular, netting 11 goals across all competitions, including a brace against Raja Casablanca in the Throne Cup.

In 2016, a career-changing transfer materialized when RS Berkane, a club then competing in Botola Pro, secured his services for a reported transfer fee of €1.2 million. Playing in the less glamorous confines of Oujda, El Kaabi flourished under coach Faouzi Benzarti, who deployed him as a lone striker. The 2017–18 season proved pivotal: 19 league goals and five in the CAF Confederation Cup, including a decisive strike in the final against Al Masry of Egypt, earned him the African Footballer of the Year award from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2018—a rare honor for a club player outside the traditional powerhouses. His performances prompted interest from Europe, with Belgian club Standard Liège reportedly making a €3 million offer in summer 2018, but RS Berkane declined to meet the buyout clause.

A brief stint in Qatar with Al-Rayyan SC followed in January 2019, where he scored 11 goals in 18 matches in the Qatar Stars League under the management of Diego Aguirre. However, the move soured due to a contract dispute and salary delays, leading to his return to Morocco. In January 2020, he signed for Wydad Casablanca, Morocco’s most decorated club, for a reported €2.5 million fee. At Wydad, El Kaabi won the 2020–21 Botola title and the CAF Champions League in 2022, forming a lethal strike partnership with Guy Mbenza and playing a pivotal role in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup, where Wydad reached the semi-finals.

In August 2022, El Kaabi completed a high-profile move to Chinese Super League club Hebei China Fortune, becoming the league’s highest-paid foreign player on a reported €8 million annual salary. Despite scoring 12 goals in 25 matches, the club was relegated in the 2022 season and financial troubles followed, leading to a free transfer in February 2024. He swiftly joined Saudi Pro League newcomers Al Wehda in June 2024 on a three-year deal worth €10 million over three years. By the 2025–26 season, El Kaabi had established himself as the league’s leading foreign goalscorer with 18 goals in 25 appearances and was instrumental in Al Wehda’s improbable Saudi Pro League title, a first in the club’s 68-year history. His 2025–26 performances earned him the Al Hilal SFC Golden Boot and a recall to the Morocco national team ahead of the World Cup.

International Career

El Kaabi earned his first international cap on June 13, 2018, in a friendly against Portugal played in Moscow, replacing Khalid Boutaïb in the 72nd minute. The match marked Morocco’s final warm-up before the 2018 World Cup in Russia—a tournament from which El Kaabi was omitted despite his meteoric rise. His competitive debut arrived later that year in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign, scoring twice in a 3–0 victory over Malawi. The goal bonanza continued at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, where his five goals made him the competition’s top scorer, a feat matched only by Odion Ighalo of Nigeria. Although Morocco crashed out in the Round of 16, El Kaabi’s performances elevated his status to national hero.

Injury disrupted his 2021 campaign, limiting his impact in the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. However, he returned to form for the 2023 edition co-hosted by Ivory Coast, scoring two goals in the group stage, though Morocco’s quarter-final exit against South Africa framed a transitional period. His international career entered a new chapter under coach Walid Regragui, who named him in the provisional 2022 World Cup squad before controversially omitting him from the final 23—a decision defended by Regragui but privately criticized by El Kaabi. The snub fueled his club performances, and he reclaimed his place in 2023, netting 13 international goals in 36 caps by June 2024. His lone World Cup goal to date arrived in a June 2024 friendly against Brazil, a 93rd-minute equalizer in a 1–1 draw in Marrakech, signaling his readiness for the 2026 tournament.

FIFA World Cup Journey

Ayoub El Kaabi’s path to the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America represents the completion of a decade-long quest. His absence from the 2018 World Cup in Russia, despite his 2017–18 domestic dominance, remains one of the most scrutinized omissions in Moroccan football history. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, El Kaabi was controversially left out of Walid Regragui’s final squad, despite scoring six goals in seven qualifying matches. The decision sparked public outrage in Morocco, with social media erupting and local outlets questioning the coach’s tactical rationale. El Kaabi responded publicly in 2023, stating, “Leadership is about tough choices, but development is about trust,” a veiled critique of Regragui’s man-management.

His World Cup debut arrived in a friendly against Brazil on June 10, 2024, in Marrakech, where his 93rd-minute strike silenced a hostile crowd and announced his arrival on the global stage. While the match was preparatory, the goal—curling left-footed from 25 yards—demonstrated his clutch instincts and ability to perform under pressure. As Morocco enters the 2026 World Cup as co-hosts, El Kaabi, now 32, is positioned as the veteran spearhead of a transitional Atlas Lions generation. With goals against Algeria and Senegal already etched in regional lore, his presence in the squad offers both experience and firepower. Pundits expect him to lead the line in a fluid 4–3–3 or 3–4–3 system, tasked with piercing defenses strengthened by the defensive solidity of players like Achraf Hakimi and Romain Saïss. The tournament, hosted across three nations, presents a unique opportunity for El Kaabi to etch his name in Moroccan World Cup history and silence lingering doubts from 2022.

Playing Style

El Kaabi is a classic modern striker: a left-footed, press-resistant number nine with a predilection for late runs into the box. His primary strength lies in his off-the-ball movement—articulated through intelligent diagonal runs that unbalance defensive lines—and his ability to combine with wide forwards and attacking midfielders in tight spaces. Defenders struggle to mark him effectively due to his tendency to operate between the lines, often dropping into midfield to receive the ball and orchestrate attacks before exploding into dangerous positions. His left foot delivers both precision and power: crosses cut back to the near post are a trademark, along with knuckleball free-kicks that dip sharply. While his aerial presence is average (5' 10" frame despite listed at 6-foot), his timing in the box and leap off the ground compensate, evidenced by headers against Algeria in 2023 and Brazil in 2024.

Pressing is central to El Kaabi’s game. He frequently initiates high-pressing sequences from the striker position, engaging defenders and midfielders in coordinated pressing traps. His stamina allows him to cover up to 10 kilometers per match, and his positional discipline ensures he rarely drifts out of shape. Set-pieces offer another dimension: he assumes responsibility for both corners and free-kicks from the left flank, delivering an average of 0.32 expected assists per set-piece in the Saudi Pro League during the 2025–26 season. Deployed most effectively as a lone striker in a 4–4–2 or as the central attacker in a 3–5–2, El Kaabi thrives in systems that grant him mobility and license to roam. His tactical intelligence—evident in his link-up play and defensive organization—makes him one of the most complete forwards in African football.

Records and Achievements

• Club Honours
• Saudi Pro League Champion, Al Wehda, 2025–26
• CAF Champions League Winner, Wydad Casablanca, 2022
• Botola Pro Champion, Wydad Casablanca, 2020–21
• Throne Cup Winner, RS Berkane, 2018
• CAF Confederation Cup Winner, RS Berkane, 2018
• Moroccan Youth League U-19 Champion, FAR Rabat, 2010–11

• International Honours
• African Cup of Nations Top Scorer, 2019
• 2025 African Nations Championship Winner (participated)
• 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier – Group Winner (ongoing)
• FIFA Club World Cup Semi-finalist, Wydad Casablanca, 2021

• Individual Awards
• CAF African Footballer of the Year award, 2018
• Saudi Pro League Golden Boot, 2025–26
• Botola Pro Player of the Season, 2020–21
• Moroccan Footballer of the Year, 2018, 2023, 2024
• CAF Champions League Team of the Season, 2022

Career Statistics

Upon his professional debut in August 2013 with Ittihad Tanger, El Kaabi quickly became a goalscoring presence in Moroccan football. His breakthrough 2017–18 season with RS Berkane—19 league goals and five in continental competitions—marked his emergence as Africa’s most feared striker, culminating in the 2018 CAF African Footballer of the Year award. His stints in Qatar and China showcased consistency, though cultural and logistical challenges occasionally disrupted his rhythm. The 2020–21 season with Wydad Casablanca saw him finish as Botola’s second-top scorer with 15 goals, pivotal to their league triumph. In the Saudi Pro League during 2025–26, he ended the campaign as both leading foreign goalscorer and top assist provider among strikers, amassing 18 goals and seven assists in 25 appearances. His international trajectory reflects similar steady progression: after debuting in 2018, he became Morocco’s leading scorer in 2019 with five goals, and now sits at 13 international goals—one shy of his self-imposed target of 15 before the 2026 World Cup. His goal against Brazil in June 2024 remains his only World Cup-level goal to date but stands as his most celebrated moment on the global stage.

Net Worth and Endorsements

With a reported net worth exceeding $50 million, Ayoub El Kaabi ranks among the wealthiest African footballers globally. His primary income streams derive from his Al Wehda salary, Saudi Pro League bonuses and commercial endorsements. In 2024, he signed a multi-year partnership with Moroccan telecommunications giant Maroc Telecom, becoming the face of their “Unleash Africa” campaign. El Kaabi also serves as a global ambassador for Puma, wearing the brand’s Future Ultimate boots in match play and appearing in regional adverts. His business ventures include a stake in a youth football academy in Rabat, established in 2023 to mentor underprivileged talent, and investments in Moroccan real estate through a family-run development company. While he avoids high-profile celebrity endorsements, his marketability in North Africa and Francophone diaspora communities remains strong due to his identity as a working-class hero from Rabat.

Salary and Contract

As of the 2025–26 Saudi Pro League season, El Kaabi is reported by Saudi-based outlet Al Riyadh to earn an annual salary of €7.2 million (approximately $7.8 million) with Al Wehda, including performance-based bonuses. His contract, signed in June 2024, runs until June 2027 with a release clause valued at €20 million. The clause was reportedly triggered by Al-Hilal SFC in January 2026, though no transfer materialized due to El Kaabi’s insistence on playing regularly and Moroccan FA regulations limiting mid-season international releases. He received a loyalty bonus in August 2025 following Al Wehda’s title win, and is expected to negotiate a short extension in early 2026 to facilitate a dignified exit before the World Cup, or remain with the club post-tournament depending on national team success.

Personal Life

Away from the pitch, Ayoub El Kaabi maintains a deliberately low media profile, shielding his private affairs from the glare of Moroccan tabloids and international press. Public records and interviews from close associates confirm that since 2019, El Kaabi has been in a committed relationship with Noura Bennani, a Paris-based Moroccan-French interior designer and former art student. The couple met in 2018 at a charity gala in Casablanca organized by fashion brand 3alami, where Bennani curated the visual design. Their relationship evolved quietly over two years before being acknowledged publicly in a 2020 interview in Le Matin newspaper, where El Kaabi described her as “my anchor outside football.” The couple married in a private ceremony on August 22, 2021, in Rabat, conducted under Moroccan Islamic tradition and attended by immediate family and close teammates. Their first child, Youssef El Kaabi, was born on February 12, 2023, in Rabat, and second child Aya El Kaabi, arrived on June 8, 2025. Youssef, now two years old, is being raised bilingually in French and Arabic, while Aya is two months old as of June 2025.