Ayyoub Bouaddi has been nominated for the “Young Player of the Year” award at the 2026 Ballon d’Or after a strong season with Lille and an impressive campaign with Morocco at the 2026 World Cup.
France Football began announcing the nominees on Tuesday, September 8, revealing the names one by one.
Bouaddi is competing for the award against Spaniards Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, Switzerland’s Yohan Manzambi, Germany’s Lennart Karl, Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza, Ivory Coast’s Yan Diomandé, Frenchmen Eli Junior Kroupi and Warren Zaïre-Emery and Bosnia’s Kerim Aljbegovic.
The 18-year-old midfielder enjoyed a standout season with Lille and also impressed at the World Cup with Morocco, playing five matches, including the quarterfinal against France, which the Atlas Lions lost 2-0.
Bouaddi also became the most expensive Moroccan player of all time after joining Manchester City for €100 million earlier this summer.
Ayyoub Bouaddi. AFP
He is the second Moroccan player nominated since the Ballon d’Or announcements began, with Yassine Bounou also in contention for the “Goalkeeper of the Year” award.
