1 hour ago
1
Issa Diop, a centre-back who was playing for France’s youth teams not long ago, just delivered the most important goal of Morocco’s World Cup campaign. His stoppage-time header against the Netherlands on June 29, 2026, leveled the score at 1-1 and kept his team alive in the tournament.
Morocco went on to win 3-2 on penalties, and Diop walked away with the Player of the Match award. Not bad for a guy who only received FIFA clearance to represent Morocco back in March.
The goal that changed everything
The Netherlands looked set to advance after taking the lead in regulation. Morocco pressed but couldn’t find a way through, until Diop, a defender by trade, popped up in the dying moments to score his first-ever international goal.
That equalizer forced the match into extra time, where neither side could break the deadlock. It eventually came down to penalties, and Morocco held their nerve to win 3-2 from the spot.
From France to Morocco: a winding path
Diop’s presence in a Morocco shirt is itself a story worth telling. He spent his formative years representing France at various youth levels, climbing through the ranks in the French football system.
But international football allegiance is a complicated thing. FIFA granted Diop clearance to switch his national team affiliation to Morocco in March 2026. Three months later, on May 26, he was officially named to Morocco’s 26-man World Cup squad.
Earlier in the tournament, Diop made his World Cup debut in a 1-1 group-stage draw against Brazil. At club level, Diop has been playing for Fulham FC since 2022, where he’s valued at approximately €8M.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
English (US) · 