Brahim Diaz: How the Spanish-born Real Madrid striker became Morocco’s icon in the African Cup of Nations

Brahim Diaz was born in Malaga but has become a national symbol for Morocco as it seeks to win a second African Cup of Nations title on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Real Madrid striker – who has made one appearance for Spain – has switched allegiances to Morocco in 2023 and is the top scorer at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Diaz’s mother, Patricia, comes from Malaga, a city like most cities by the sea, shaped by cross-cultural movement. His father, Sofiel, was born in Melilla – a Spanish city on the North African coast – to a Moroccan family. From an early age, Ibrahim grew up understanding that identity did not have to be individual.

As a child, he traveled several times to Nador to visit his grandmother and cousins. There, he was dressed like any other Moroccan boy. He appears in family photos next to his grandmother, wearing a traditional Moroccan hijab. Ibrahim often summed it up simply: “I’ve always felt 100% Spanish and 100% Moroccan.”

Before 11-a-side football, Ibrahim grew up through futsal. By the age of four or five, he was already learning how to survive in confined spaces. This influence is still evident today: precise control, dribbling in crowded areas, tremendous acceleration, and the ability to strike with the toe when there is no time to adjust.

He later moved to a sevens team, playing for modest Malaga-based teams such as Tiro Pichon and Mortadillo. Malaga wanted to sign him when he was five or six years old, but his father chose patience: small teams, futsal, learning without haste.

When he eventually joined Malaga and began to shine – before even turning 16 – Europe took notice. In 2010, in a tournament organized by Spanish radio legend Jose Ramon de la Morena, Ibrahim won the title of best player. His Malaga team was eliminated by Real Madrid in the semi-finals but he left his mark and scored against Luca Zidane.

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

While many young talents accept early loans, Ibrahim rejects shortcuts. When he was 17 years old, lowly Spanish first division clubs wanted to sign him on loan. He said no. In his mind, there was only one path: consistency and an elite environment. His entire family moved with him to Manchester.

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 that prevented him from settling in and building continuity at the Bernabéu.

This was followed by a three-season loan spell at Milan. There, his career reached a defining moment: he donned the iconic No. 10 shirt and played a decisive role in Milan’s Serie A title. He scored important goals, stood out on big European nights, and showed leadership beyond his years and what his frail frame would suggest.

Then came his return to Madrid.