Terrible news has Rocked the football world: Abdelaziz Barrada, a former player of the Moroccan national team who had recently retired, has died at just 35 years old. An attacking midfielder who could also play as an attacking midfielder on the right, Barrada had been without a team since 2021 after the end of his contract with French amateurs Lusitanos Saint-Maur.
Born to a Moroccan family in the small village of Provins, just outside of Paris, Barrada was dual national with a French and Moroccan passport. His football journey began with the PSG youth team, where he signed his first contract on his 18th birthday. He also played in France with Marseille, in Spain with Getafe, in Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. His journey was marked by stops in Antalyaspor, Al-Nasr Dubai, Al-Jazira, and Al-Shahaniya.
In the Moroccan national team, Barrada made 28 appearances and scored 4 goals. He was part of the squad that participated in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and was one of the brightest stars of the tournament. His most notable achievement was scoring the first goal in the London Olympics, which opened Morocco’s campaign against Honduras in 2012.
Barrada’s death is a tremendous loss to the football world, and tributes have poured in from fans, former teammates, and coaches who worked with him. He may have been out of the spotlight in recent years, but his legacy will live on as a talented and promising midfielder who left his mark on the beautiful game.
