Morocco rallying behind Real Madrid star for this year’s Ballon d’Or | OneFootball

The Ballon d’Or finalists, awarded by France Football, have been announced, and six Real Madrid players are in the running.

However, another Real Madrid player, Brahim Diaz, is being considered for the African Ballon d’Or.

This prestigious award, which has been given by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) since 1996, has been won by football legends such as Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, and Yaya Toure.

Brahim, who became a naturalised Moroccan player in March, is eligible for this recognition due to his outstanding achievements both with Real Madrid and the Moroccan national team.

His trophy cabinet includes La Liga, the Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup, and the European Cup. These accomplishments, combined with his stellar performances for Morocco, have made him a key figure in the North African team.

The Moroccan fans already see him as a hero, and according to Mundo Deportivo, there is growing support for Brahim to secure the African Ballon d’Or when it is awarded in December.

A Moroccan hero

Morocco wants Brahim Diaz to win the African Ballon d’Or. (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Morocco has begun backing Brahim’s candidacy, pushing for his nomination to ensure his name is in the spotlight for the prestigious award.

It would be another personal accolade for a Real Madrid player, as the world waits to see whether the regular Ballon d’Or will go to Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, or Rodri—some of the frontrunners for the main award.

After his recent display in Morocco’s 1-0 victory over Lesotho in Agadir, Moroccan supporters have ramped up their calls for “Brahim for the Ballon d’Or!”

The match was decided by Brahim’s late heroics, where he scored his second goal in as many games.

Coming on as a substitute in the second half, he showed his skill by dribbling past two defenders and netting the winning goal in the 93rd minute. His earlier goal came in Morocco’s 4-1 win over Gabon during the previous African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The African Ballon d’Or, or “Best African Player of the Year,” is organised by CAF and is awarded each December, often in Morocco.

CAF will soon release the first list of 30 contenders, which will then be narrowed down to 10 finalists. These players will compete for the award, and Brahim looks set to be a serious contender for this prestigious title.