Brahim Diaz: How Spain-born Real Madrid forward became Morocco icon at Afcon

Brahim Diaz was born in Malaga but has become a national icon for Morocco as they chase a second Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Real Madrid forward – who made one senior appearance for Spain – switched allegiances to Morocco in 2023 and is the top scorer at this year’s Afcon.

Diaz’s mother, Patricia, hails from Malaga, a city like most of those by the sea, shaped by movement across cultures. His father, Sufiel, was born in Melilla – a Spanish city on the north African coast – into a Moroccan family. From early on, Brahim grew up understanding that identity does not need to be singular.

As a child, he travelled several times to Nador to visit his grandmother and cousins. There, he was dressed like any other Moroccan boy. In family photos he appears next to his grandmother, wearing a traditional Moroccan veil. Brahim has often summed it up simply: “I have always felt 100% Spanish and 100% Moroccan.”

Before 11-a-side football, Brahim was shaped by futsal. At four or five years old, he was already learning to survive in tight spaces. That influence remains visible today: close control, dribbling in crowded areas, explosive acceleration, and the ability to strike with the toe when there is no time to adjust.

He later moved to seven-a-side, playing for modest Malaga-based teams such as Tiro Pichon and Mortadelo. Malaga wanted to sign him when he was just five or six, but his father chose patience: small teams, futsal, learning without rushing.

When he eventually joined Malaga and began to stand out – before the age of 16 – Europe took notice. In 2010, at a tournament organised by Spanish radio legend Jose Ramon de la Morena, Brahim was named MVP. His Malaga side were eliminated by Real Madrid in the semi-finals but he left his mark, scoring against Luca Zidane.

Manchester City then arrived with a clear, long-term project. Brahim moved to England in 2015. He did not speak English, but education had always been central within the family. A year later he signed his first professional contract. City were no longer just a big club – they had ambition, structure and a globally respected academy. Today, Brahim speaks English fluently and feels he was offered a very strong foundation in Manchester.

While many young talents accept early loans, Brahim refused shortcuts. At 17, modest Spanish top-flight clubs wanted him on loan. He said no. In his mind, only one path existed: consistency and elite surroundings. His entire family moved to Manchester with him.

The next step felt inevitable. In 2019 he joined Real Madrid in a £21m deal – a record fee at the time for a City academy product. The opportunity was irresistible. But his early period in Madrid was disrupted by a series of injuries which prevented him from settling and building continuity at the Bernabeu.

A three-season loan spell at AC Milan followed. There, his career reached a defining moment: wearing the iconic number 10 shirt and playing a decisive role in Milan’s Serie A title. He delivered important goals, stood out on big European nights, and showed leadership that went beyond his years and what his slight frame might suggest.

Then came his return to Madrid.