"We outperformed them" .. Yasser Zbeiri shines in La Liga and aims to play for Barcelona
Yassir Zbirri is now competing with French stars Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Jamal for the top scorer title in La Liga with Racing Santander, following a year of brilliance and winning the U-20 World Cup.
The Moroccan international continues to steadily accumulate football achievements as he embarks on his long journey to fulfill his biggest dream: wearing the jersey of FC Barcelona.
About a year ago, before his breakout in Spain with the team currently sitting in 12th place, Zbirri said, “I have been a true Barcelona fan since I was a child, and I have dreamed of playing for them since my childhood.”
AFP showcases Zbirri's Catalan dream journey through the eyes of those who witnessed the talented child in Morocco before he became a world champion in South America and shone on European pitches.
Zbirri continued his impressive form by scoring the winning goal for his team against Espanyol, clinching a 2-1 victory just six minutes before the end of regular time on Saturday, bringing his tally to eight goals in the league this season.
“We ate them”.. from Marrakech to the world
Zbirri was born and raised in Marrakech, where his football journey began at the Mohammed VI Academy on the outskirts of the capital, Rabat, when he joined at the age of 12.
One of his coaches at the academy, Mahmoud El-Sabki, explained to AFP that Zbirri's selection a year before turning 13 was exceptional due to his immense skills, as he was integrated into the Marrakech academy at the age of seven before moving to its main location in Salé five years later.
El-Sabki added, “What we noticed about Zbirri was his great technical abilities and his movement coordination from the very beginning; finishing attacks came naturally to him, like half-volleys and volleys.”
Meanwhile, the academy's former director and mentor, Nasser Larguet, revealed the secret to his success: “The family environment, as his father is very dedicated to raising his son, instilling values of respect and hard work.”
Larguet continued, “At the Marrakech center, he was always a smiling boy, happy to be on the pitch and playing, and he was also someone who listens well when receiving advice from his coaches.”
In the summer of 2024, Zbirri will take another step towards his Catalan dream by moving to Europe via Portuguese club Famalicão, and in October 2025, the Marrakech native introduced himself to the world at the U-20 World Cup in Chile, where he won the tournament and scored five goals.
“We ate them” (we clearly outperformed them), Zbirri spontaneously responded to what he described as provocations from the Argentine players, the opponents in the final match, after the “Atlas Cubs” secured a 2-0 victory over the “Albiceleste,” scoring both goals under the guidance of the current coach of the “Atlas Lions,” Mohamed Wahbi.
Larguet recalled a memorable moment from the tournament: “Life is beautiful. I met Zbirri in Chile when I was with the Saudi national team (he was then the technical director of the Saudi Football Federation). His father sent me a picture during the tournament showing me with him when he was only eight years old.”
Rennes doubts and Santander brilliance
After the euphoria of the World Cup, some European clubs began to eye the Moroccan talent, leading to his transfer to Rennes in February 2026, but he did not shine at the French club.
Regarding this performance, Larguet linked Zbirri's experience at Rennes to the striker's desire to play for a big European club or Barcelona, as Zbirri aspires. According to the Moroccan coach, he needs to consider adapting his playing style and assess the list of existing strikers to see if he can play in their place.
Larguet added, “I know Rennes well and their coaches closely; they have Edouard Mendy, who was called up by Zinedine Zidane to the French national team, and his style suits Rennes better. Perhaps Zbirri started to lose patience then, and the team's coach (Bruno Genesio) preferred to loan him out or transfer him to another environment to continue his development.”
The next step for the U-20 World Champion was to move to the country of his dreams through Racing Santander, on loan until the end of the current season.
Zbirri quickly proved his worth by scoring eight goals in his first 10 rounds of La Liga. Ironically, he scored at Camp Nou against Barcelona in their sixth-round match, where his team suffered a heavy defeat (2-7).
Regarding Zbirri's brilliance, El-Sabki, who is optimistic yet realistic about the Moroccan international's dream, explained: “What made the difference is his quick integration into La Liga, as we focus on pure technical training at the academy, and the leagues that suit us best are Spain and Portugal, as they lean more towards technical aspects and rely less on physical strength.”
Barcelona representation dream possible
Before his breakout in Spain, Zbirri said about a year ago while in the Iberian neighbor to be on beIN Sports: “I went to watch them (Barcelona) during the era of the Brazilian trio Neymar, Argentine Lionel Messi, and Uruguayan Luis Suárez. But this dream is still far away, and I want to focus on playing with my team.”
The dream of Barcelona has accompanied the striker since his formative years; El-Sabki confirmed: “In the individual meetings we hold with academy players to understand their goals and ambitions, Zbirri always confirmed throughout his childhood and time with us his dream of playing for Barcelona, his support for the Spanish team, and his desire to play in La Liga.”
Larguet also believes that Zbirri's dream of representing Barcelona is possible, provided he works very hard and is honest with himself when comparing his performance development with the stars of the “Blaugrana” attack.
The Moroccan coach stated that he would convey this message to Zbirri if he asked for advice: “Provide yourself with the means that match your ambition. Be at the top of your performance. Look at Barcelona's strikers and notice: how do they play? How do they communicate with midfield players? How do they move and reach the goal and score?”
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