A genius on and off the pitch
World Cup shooting star is studying mathematics
June 19, 2026 – 4:21 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
In the World Cup group game against Brazil, Ayyoub Bouaddi showed what he can do with the ball. But that’s not his only talent.
While others his age are still going to school, the Moroccan whiz kid Ayyoub Bouaddi has already played his first World Cup game. In the game against Brazil (1:1), the 18-year-old attracted international attention with his performance and stole the show from everyone on the field. Bouaddi is also an unusual presence off the pitch: the midfielder is studying mathematics.
“I wanted to continue studying because it meant I could use my free time to learn,” he revealed in an interview with the newspaper Le Parisien. The online bachelor’s degree also helps him in the field. “If you learn while you’re at it, it keeps your mind sharp. For me, math can help you understand the game quicker, especially tactically.”
The prodigy from France
Bouaddi grew up in Creil in northern France before joining the youth academy at the age of 14 OSC Lille changed. He completed his studies at the age of 16 high school diploma with the grade “very good” and won the oratory competition of the training centers in the Élysée Palace a year earlier.
“He was actually ahead of everyone. His school reports were impeccable. He completed his homework in an hour,” said Georges Tournay, head of a regional youth training center in France. He also impresses with outstanding performances on the field. His debut in the Conference League he gave at the age of 16, and on his 17th birthday he showed his skills against real Madrid in the Champions League.
That the high flyer is even for them Morocco national team is not a given, as coach Mohamed Ouahbi revealed after the first group game: “We had to convince him several times to play for Morocco,” he admitted. After all, he could also have chosen France.
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