In a devastating blow to Morocco’s World Cup aspirations, rising star Abde Ezzalzouli has been ruled out of the vast majority of the tournament in Qatar after medical scans confirmed the severity of his knee injury. The 20-year-old winger, currently on loan at Osasuna from Barcelona, sustained the damage during a recent La Liga clash, and the prognosis has shattered his hopes of representing the Atlas Lions on football’s biggest stage.
Club and national team medical staff jointly revealed that Ezzalzouli will require an extended rehabilitation period, with the injury—described as a significant ligament issue—expected to keep him sidelined for well over a month. Given that the World Cup runs from late November through mid-December, his absence will cover almost the entire group stage and beyond, even if Morocco advances deep into the knockout rounds.
“It’s heartbreaking,” a source close to the player told reporters. “Abde was so excited to play for his country, and he had been in fantastic form. This is a cruel setback, but he’s determined to come back stronger.”
Ezzalzouli’s explosive pace and dribbling ability had made him a key figure in Morocco’s attacking plans under coach Walid Regragui. The youngster burst onto the scene with Barcelona’s first team last season before moving to Osasuna for regular minutes—a move that paid off with consistent performances and a call-up to the national squad.
Morocco now faces an uphill task to fill the void left by one of their most dynamic talents. With the likes of Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal also in the squad, Regragui still has quality options, but Ezzalzouli’s directness and fearlessness will be sorely missed. The injury also raises questions about his future at Barcelona, where a return to Camp Nou had been anticipated after the loan spell.
For now, the focus is on recovery. Ezzalzouli is expected to undergo surgery later this week, with an eye on returning to full fitness for the second half of the club season. His World Cup dream, however, will have to wait until 2026—a cruel interruption for a player who had been tipped to become Morocco’s next breakout star.