Whether it is Azzedine Ounahi driving past Spanish defenders, Sofyan Amrabat (who wears number 4, but compliments the 8) sweeping up the mess behind him, or a future prodigy from the Mohammed VI Academy, the number 8 will always be the engine of the Atlas Lions.
Opponents couldn’t take the ball off him. Against the likes of Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), Luka Modrić (Croatia), and Kylian Mbappé (France), Ounahi dribbled with a low-center-of-gravity grace that evoked Andrés Iniesta. His work rate was phenomenal: in the quarter-final against Portugal, Ounahi covered over 12 kilometers, completed 90% of his passes, and made more ball recoveries than any midfielder on the pitch. The was everywhere—tackling, turning, and launching counter-attacks.
This performance cemented the as a global brand. Within weeks, Ounahi moved from Angers to Olympique de Marseille for a reported €10 million, a testament to how one jersey number can skyrocket a player’s value.
: The number 8 jersey for the women's national team is currently held by midfielder Salma Amani Ounahi's role in Morocco's current 2026 World Cup qualifying formation? Google Sports Data This response uses data provided by Google Sports
When you search for today, the name that immediately surfaces is Azzedine Ounahi . At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Ounahi exploded onto the global stage as one of the tournament’s most delightful revelations. Wearing the No 8 shirt, the then-Angers midfielder became the heartbeat of Walid Regragui’s history-making side.
The phrase “Morocco No 8” has entered the lexicon as slang in Moroccan Darija. In the cafes of Casablanca, if someone says, “Khdama bhal raqm 8” (He works like the number 8), it means they are tirelessly running, solving problems, and handling both defense and offense in their profession.
has maintained high-level output for both club and country during the current season. Competition Pass Completion La Liga (2025–26) AFCON 2025 Super League Greece Panathinaikos Sports Player Stats Result Career Milestones World Cup Breakthrough (2022)