The Defensive Anchor with an Attacking Thread
Wearing the number 3 shirt for Morocco, Noussair Mazraoui has made himself a fixture in the national team setup this season. The 28-year-old defender, born in Leiderdorp in the Netherlands, has featured 12 times for Morocco across all competitions in 2025/26 — contributing 3 assists, a return that underlines how much he offers going forward from a defensive position.
At club level, Mazraoui has been a reliable presence for Manchester United. He has made 20 Premier League appearances this season, part of 26 appearances across all club competitions. While his attacking output at Old Trafford has been modest on the scoresheet, his Morocco numbers tell a slightly different story: both of his assists in friendly matches and one in the Africa Cup of Nations point to a defender comfortable in advanced positions.
For Morocco, the bulk of his action this season has come in the Africa Cup of Nations, where he made 7 appearances and registered 1 assist. He also featured 3 times in Africa Cup of Nations qualification and twice in friendlies, adding 2 further assists in those matches.
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Mazraoui's ability to contribute at both ends of the pitch makes him a valuable asset on Morocco's right side. His combination of defensive solidity and creative output in the final third gives the national team genuine width and variety — qualities that will matter in a tournament of that scale.