With 20 goals for Soufiane Rahimi (16 in interclub cups and 4 in selection) and 19 for Ayoub El Kaabi, two Moroccans finished first and second in the IFFHS ranking for the year 2024, designating them as the Lions’ most fit scorers of the Atlas on the international level. These two former Botolists are ahead of several stars such as Erling Haaland, Viktor Gyökeres, Harry Kane and many more.
Technically, Rahimi who finishes at the top of the ranking. The native of Casablanca sealed the victory, thanks to a goal scored on December 3, 2024, in the match between Al Ain and Pakhtakor (1-1). This achievement ultimately separates the Atlas Lions duo, neck and neck until the last weeks of the year.
At the end of November, Soufiane Rahimi still had a slight advantage, having scored the same number of goals in fewer matches (24 appearances), as Ayoub El Kaabi (27 matches).
Soufiane Rahimi: the king of Asia
On the Asian continent, Soufiane Rahimi led Al Ain to the AFC Champions League title, for the second time in its history, after that of 2003. ‘Weld Youari’ was named best player and scorer of the competition with 12 goals and 6 assists in 13 matches.
His efficiency and versatility allowed Al Ain to establish its supremacy within Asian football, notably by eliminating Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and Yassine Bounou’s Al Hilal, ending an unbeaten streak of 42 matches, established by the Riyadh club.
Within the Moroccan selection, Rahimi totaled three goals scored during the CAN 2025 qualifiers, not counting the one scored during qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, proving his importance in the Moroccan national group.
That’s not all. Rahimi also scored 8 goals, finishing as the top scorer in the football tournament at the Paris Olympics. Unfortunately, with the competition not included in the FIFA calendar, Rahimi’s Olympic goals were not counted.
Read also: Portrait: the incredible destiny of Soufiane Rahimi
Ayoub El Kaabi, the European star
Winner of the Europa Conference League with Olympiakos, Ayoub El Kaabi was voted top scorer and player of the competition. The Moroccan striker scored 11 goals in 9 matches and led his team to win the first continental title in its history.
The “Nueve” scored the only goal of the final, making him the first Moroccan player to score in a final of a European competition. Not only that, El Kaabi was also chosen in the C4 eleven. With the Atlas Lions, El Kaabi was not at the top of his form. The former Wydad de Casablanca player scored 3 goals during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and another during qualifying for the 2025 CAN.
Seeing two Moroccan players, pure products of Botola, appear at the top of such a ranking, ahead of global superstars like Harry Kane, Viktor Gyokeres and Erling Haaland, is undoubtedly a reason for pride. Figures which strengthen the offensive capabilities of the national team during the next rounds.
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