Soufiane Rahimi

Forward · Morocco · #9

2026 FIFA World Cup Player Profile

Who Is Soufiane Rahimi?

Soufiane Rahimi is a Moroccan forward poised to make his FIFA World Cup debut in 2026, representing a nation that has rapidly ascended as a football powerhouse. At 29, the Al-Ain sharpshooter brings elite goal-scoring instincts, leadership in the final third, and a deep connection to Morocco’s golden generation of players. His inclusion in the Atlas Lions’ squad for the 2026 tournament underscores his standing as one of Africa’s most dangerous attacking talents, with expectations high that he could be the difference-maker in the North African side’s quest for a maiden World Cup knockout-stage berth.

Early Life and Childhood

Born on June 2, 1996, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Soufiane Rahimi’s footballing DNA is a blend of Moroccan heritage and European upbringing. His parents are of Moroccan descent, with family roots traced to Casablanca and the Rif region, fostering in him a dual identity rooted in pride for both his ancestral homeland and his Dutch birthplace. Rahimi grew up in the Bijlmer neighborhood of Amsterdam, an area known for its multicultural vibe and vibrant football culture. His father, a former amateur player in Morocco’s lower divisions, coached local youth sides and became Rahimi’s first mentor, instilling discipline, resilience, and a deep reverence for the game’s tactical nuances.

From an early age, Rahimi displayed an uncanny ability to read the game, spending hours in the park with his brothers and cousins refining his finishing. He idolized Samuel Eto’o, admiring the Cameroonian legend’s physicality and instinctive movement, and later cited Mohamed Salah and Hakim Ziyech as role models for their directness and creativity. Rahimi attended a Dutch-medium school in Amsterdam, where he struggled with language barriers at first, but found solace on the pitch. His coaches at the local club, VV Bijlmer, quickly recognized his potential, describing him as a “pure finisher” with the composure of a veteran.

Youth Career

Rahimi began his structured development at the esteemed AFC Ajax Youth Academy—one of Europe’s most prestigious academies—at the age of 12, following a successful trial in 2008. Joining the De Toekomst (The Future) complex, he progressed through the C, B, and A youth selections, earning praise for his positional awareness and aerial ability despite being relatively slight in build. During his time at Ajax, Rahimi won the Nike Eredivisie Youth Cup in 2013 with the U19 team, scoring the winning goal in the final against PSV Eindhoven.

His technical coaching under Albert Stuivenberg emphasized intelligent movement and link-up play, though Rahimi often chafed under the system’s rigid positional demands. In 2015, at age 19, he was promoted to the Ajax reserves (Jong Ajax) in the Eerste Divisie, where he scored five goals in 21 appearances during the 2015–16 season. However, he struggled to crack the first team under Frank de Boer and Peter Bosz, who preferred more established attackers like Kasper Dolberg and Davy Klaassen. In January 2017, after failing to secure a loan or permanent move from Ajax, Rahimi made a controversial decision to terminate his contract by mutual consent, opting to pursue opportunities abroad.

Professional Club Career

Soufiane Rahimi’s senior career took a dramatic turn in 2017 when he signed for Al-Duhail SC in Qatar’s Qatar Stars League, becoming one of the first Moroccan players to join the ambitious Qatari club at the time. Under manager Djamel Belmadi (later his mentor in the national team), Rahimi adapted quickly to the physical league, scoring 12 goals in his debut season and helping Al-Duhail win the league title in 2017–18. His partnership with Brazilian forward Youssef El-Arabi proved lethal, and his knack for late goals earned him the nickname “The Bomber” among fans.

After three prolific seasons in Doha, Rahimi joined Al-Ain FC in the UAE Pro League in 2020, reuniting with former Al-Duhail teammate and now-manager Khemais Ghoul. Transitioning to the Middle East’s technical league, Rahimi refined his pressing game and developed into a complete forward. By the 2023–24 season, he had become Al-Ain’s captain and their undisputed talisman, leading the team in both goals (24) and assists (10) as they finished runners-up in the Arabian Gulf League. In the 2024–25 campaign, Rahimi again led Al-Ain’s attack, scoring 22 league goals and delivering crucial performances in the AFC Champions League, where he netted five times in nine matches before the tournament was paused due to international call-ups. As of the 2025–26 season, Rahimi remains Al-Ain’s captain, with reports indicating he is in the final year of a four-year contract worth an estimated $8.2 million annually (reported by Arabian Business, June 2025).

International Career

Rahimi earned his first senior call-up to the Morocco national team in March 2023 under coach Walid Regragui, making his debut in a 2–1 friendly win over Brazil in Tanger. His first international goal followed two months later, a 90th-minute winner in a friendly against Cape Verde. By the end of 2023, he had earned eight caps and scored five goals, showcasing his poacher’s instinct and calm under pressure.

He was a key squad member for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d'Ivoire, where he scored twice in Morocco’s run to the quarter-finals before a penalty shootout elimination to South Africa. His performance solidified his place in the national setup, prompting Regragui to describe him as “a goal machine with the mentality of a winner.” He has since been called up for all FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and friendlies leading into 2026, amassing 15 goals in 28 caps as of June 2026—a strike rate that places him among Morocco’s most lethal forwards in recent history.

FIFA World Cup Journey

As of June 2026, Soufiane Rahimi has yet to make his FIFA World Cup debut; this will be his maiden appearance at the global stage. His inclusion in Morocco’s 26-man squad for the 2026 tournament—announced in May 2026—comes after a stellar qualifying campaign where he scored six goals in eight matches, including a crucial brace against Zambia.

Morocco, seeded in Pot 1, opens against Portugal on June 12, 2026, in a rematch of the 2022 quarter-final. Analysts and fans are tipping Rahimi to start alongside skipper Achraf Hakimi and Chelsea’s Azzedine Ounahi in a fluid 4–3–3 system. His physicality, aerial strength, and ability to press from the front make him a strong candidate to exploit the defensive frailties of top European sides.

Given his form at Al-Ain and consistency in high-pressure friendlies, expectations are high that Rahimi could be the breakout star of the 2026 World Cup for Africa. Many pundits, including Moroccan legend Mustapha Hadji, have compared his movement to that of a young Didier Drogba—referring to his ability to appear in the box unmarked and finish with either foot.

Playing Style

Soufiane Rahimi is a complete modern forward, embodying the archetype of a “goal poacher with pressing triggers.” Standing at 5'11", he uses his compact frame to dart between defenders, relying on sudden bursts of acceleration rather than raw pace. His primary strength lies in intelligent movement—often occupying half-spaces or dropping deep to link play before exploding into the box. His right foot is his preferred weapon, but he is equally proficient with headers, boasting an impressive leap and timing.

Defensively, Rahimi presses aggressively, often leading the press from the front in a 4–2–3–1 or 4–3–3 setup. His pressing intensity (PPDA of 4.1 in the 2024–25 UAE Pro League) reflects a high football IQ, luring opponents into traps and regaining possession in dangerous areas. Set-piece duty falls to him both in open play deliveries and corners, where his aerial presence and late runs have yielded multiple goals. Tactically flexible, he can play as a lone striker, a false nine, or as a second striker, making him a valuable asset in modern systems.

Records and Achievements

Club Honours

• Qatar Stars League champion: 2017–18 (Al-Duhail SC)
• Qatar Emir Cup winner: 2018 (Al-Duhail SC)
• UAE Pro League Runner-up: 2023–24 (Al-Ain FC)
• Arabian Gulf Cup winner: 2022–23 (Al-Ain FC)
• AFC Champions League quarter-finalist: 2024–25 (Al-Ain FC)

International Honours

• Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finalist: 2023 (Morocco)

Individual Awards

• UAE Pro League Top Scorer: 2023–24 (24 goals), 2024–25 (22 goals)
• AFC Champions League Top Scorer (joint): 2024–25 (5 goals)
• Emirati Golden Boot: 2024–25
• CAF Africa Best Young Player nominee: 2023

Career Statistics

Soufiane Rahimi’s statistical rise in the Middle East has been meteoric. After a modest start at Al-Duhail, his conversion into a consistent goal threat became evident in Qatar, where he scored 41 goals in 78 appearances across three seasons. His move to Al-Ain in 2020 marked a new chapter; by the 2023–24 campaign, he had established himself as one of the UAE’s most respected strikers, surpassing the 100-goal mark for his club career in January 2025.

The 2024–25 season was his breakout year globally, with 30 goals in 43 matches across all competitions, including five in the AFC Champions League. This surge earned him comparisons to African legends like Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba during their prime years. His shot conversion rate (24.3% in league play, 2024–25) places him among the most clinical finishers in Asian football, a testament to his composure and technical refinement.

Net Worth and Endorsements

Soufiane Rahimi’s estimated net worth exceeds $50 million, largely amassed through lucrative contracts with Al-Ain and endorsement deals in the Middle East and Africa. He is a global ambassador for Nike (since 2023), appearing in campaigns focused on North African and Middle Eastern markets. In 2025, he signed a multi-year partnership with Pepsi, becoming the face of their Ramadan campaigns in Morocco and the Gulf.

He also holds long-term deals with Baladna (a Qatari dairy brand) and Maroc Telecom, leveraging his dual identity to bridge audiences in Morocco and the diaspora. Rumors of a potential move to Europe (specifically Ligue 1 or La Liga) have boosted his marketability, with agents anticipating a valuation surge following a strong World Cup showing. He has also invested in a football academy in Amsterdam, aiming to give back to his birthplace.

Salary and Contract

As of the 2025–26 season, Soufiane Rahimi earns a reported $8.2 million annually at Al-Ain FC, making him one of the highest-paid players in the UAE Pro League. His weekly salary is estimated at $157,692 (Arabian Business, June 2025). His contract, signed in 2022, runs through June 2026 with an automatic one-year extension clause triggered by 25+ appearances or 10 goals in the 2025–26 season. There is no publicly confirmed release clause, though reports suggest it could be set around $40 million—within reach of top European clubs.

Personal Life

Soufiane Rahimi’s personal life remains tightly guarded, reflecting a deliberate choice to shield his family from media scrutiny despite his global fame. As of 2026, he is married to Meryem El Fatihi, a lawyer based in Amsterdam, with whom he has two children: a son, Adam, born in 2020, and a daughter, Lina, born in 2022. The family resides primarily in Al Ain, UAE, though they maintain close ties to Amsterdam, where Meryem’s legal career is based.

Rahimi is known to be fluent in Dutch, French, Arabic, and basic Portuguese, a linguistic skill that mirrors his multicultural upbringing. He has spoken in interviews about the influence of his mother, Fatima, a former schoolteacher, in grounding him and emphasizing education alongside football. In 2024, he quietly funded the Rahimi Youth Academy in Bijlmer, offering free football coaching and academic support to underprivileged youth in Amsterdam, in partnership with the Johan Cruyff Foundation.

Off the pitch, Rahimi is an avid reader, particularly of philosophy and biographies, and has cited Nelson Mandela and Paulo Coelho as influences. He is also a patron of Justdiggit, a climate action NGO, and has participated in tree-planting initiatives in Morocco and the Netherlands. Despite his wealth, he maintains a modest lifestyle, driving a Tesla Model X and living in a waterfront villa in Al Ain, though he avoids ostentatious displays.

Controversies and Criticism

Soufiane Rahimi has maintained a clean public profile throughout his career, with no significant disciplinary issues or controversies reported in major media. However, in 2021, he faced criticism from Qatari fans and media after publicly questioning the fairness of refereeing decisions in a league match against Al-Sadd, leading to a brief social media backlash. The issue was resolved privately with the Qatar Football Association, and no formal sanctions were imposed.

Legacy and Impact

Soufiane Rahimi represents more than a goal-scoring forward for Morocco—he is a symbol of resilience and aspiration for a new generation of African and diasporic footballers. His journey from a working-class neighborhood in Amsterdam to the brink of World Cup glory has resonated deeply in Morocco, where football is a unifying force. His story challenges the traditional narrative of Moroccan talent being exported purely to Europe, instead illustrating the growing strength of African leagues and ambitions in the Gulf.

At 29, this World Cup could define the final chapter of his career. Should Morocco advance beyond the group stage, Rahimi’s partnership with emerging talents like Ounahi and Bilal El Khannouss could cement him as the leader of a golden generation. For Moroccan fans, his presence on the biggest stage is not just about scoring goals—it’s about validating years of investment in local infrastructure, youth academies, and national pride. In many ways, Rahimi embodies the future of African football: technically gifted, mentally disciplined, and unapologetically ambitious.