An 18-year-old just did something only Pelé has done before him. Ayyoub Bouaddi, at 18 years and 280 days old, stepped onto the pitch in a World Cup quarter-final, making him the second-youngest player ever to reach that stage of the tournament.
From Senlis to the world stage
Bouaddi was born on October 2, 2007, in Senlis, France. He grew up in the French football system and became Lille OSC’s youngest-ever senior debutant, making his first appearance at just 16 years and 3 days back in 2023.
Despite coming through French football, Bouaddi switched his international allegiance to Morocco on May 15, 2026, after receiving FIFA approval. He was subsequently named to Morocco’s 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup on May 26.
His debut for the Atlas Lions came on June 13, 2026, in a 1-1 draw against Brazil. Since then, he’s earned 7 caps for Morocco as of early July 2026. At Lille, Bouaddi has already starred in the UEFA Champions League. Transfer speculation is intensifying, and Bouaddi is considered a strong contender for the FIFA Young Player Award at the tournament.
