The one and only player that stole the show during the Morocco-Spain football game, played Tuesday as part of the 2022 World Cup, is, indisputably, Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Since the start of the global competition, Bounou kept a clean sheet even with the penalty shootout (3-0) that eliminated Spain and secured Morocco’s spot in the quarterfinals. The only goal that was scored against Bouno was during the Canada match, a result of the ball taking a deflection off Nayef Aguerd and finishing in the net.
Who is Yassine Bounou, the man of the day?
Yassine Bounou, or Bono, is a Moroccan goalkeeper born in Montreal, Canada in 1991. His parents decided to come back to Morocco when he was only 3 years old.
Yassine started his football career with Wydad Athletic Club of Casablanca (WAC) juniors, then as a senior (2011) against Esperance Sportive de Tunis (EST), a much-needed promotion to shine nationally and continentally.
One year later, Bounou will start his international career after moving to Spain to play with Athletico Madrid, one of the best clubs in the Spanish League. He will be afterwards loaned to Real Zaragoza.
Bounou spent three seasons at Girona FC before being loaned in 2019 to his current club, Sevilla, with whom he signed a permanent contract in 2020.
The Moroccan star shined with Sevilla’s incredible run in the Europa League in 2020. That summer, Bounou put in a stellar performance in the quarter-finals against Wolverhampton (with a saved penalty) and especially in the semi-final against Manchester United, where his countless spectacular saves enabled the Andalusians to reach the final and then the title.
Yassine made his mark with the Moroccan National Team in 2012 after passing through all youth teams. His first, real start was in 2014 with Badou Zaki.
In Herve Renard’s time, he was the second goalkeeper of the national team. He became the titular Goalkeeper in CAN 2019, under Vahid Halilhodzic, and turned into the Atlas Lions’ No.1 goalkeeper.
Our Goalkeeper had already won the Spanish “Marca” award “Trophee Zamora” as the best goalkeeper of 2021-2022 on Sep. 27.