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Thierry Henry: Morrocan Midfielder Bouaddi Deserved Man of the Match Award Against Brazil

French football legend Thierry Henry has highlighted the impressive performance of Morrocan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi in their opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Brazil. Bouaddi received little recognition for his outstanding display but Henry believes the youngster deserved the Man of the Match award. Bouaddi played confidently in his first competitive international appearance for Morocco, helping the Atlas Lions compete with Brazil and control parts of the midfield battle. He showcased his maturity by remaining calm under pressure, recovering possession, and helping his team move the ball out of difficult areas. Henry pointed out that producing such a composed display at the age of 18 and against a team like Brazil was a major achievement. Bouaddi was among Morocco's standout performers at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, recording more touches than any of his teammates and completing over 90% of his passes. He was also effective in duels, ball recoveries, and carrying possession forward.

His performance helped Morocco start strongly before Ismael Saibari opened the scoring in the 21st minute following a pass from Brahim Diaz.

Vinicius brought Brazil level shortly afterward with a powerful finish, but the five-time world champions struggled to take full control of the match.