Eliesse Ben Seghir: Morocco's Rising Star

Who Is Eliesse Ben Seghir?

Eliesse Ben Seghir was born on 16 February 2005, making him 21 years old in 2026. A versatile, fast and technical attacker, he rose to prominence at Monaco in Ligue 1 before joining Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in August 2025 on a deal that runs to 2030.

Born in France, he committed his international future to Morocco and has already earned senior caps, scoring on the international stage. He is widely seen as one of the most exciting young Moroccan talents of his generation.

Left Out of the 2026 Squad

Despite his talent, Ben Seghir did not make Morocco's final 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi left him out alongside other young attackers such as Amine Adli and Ilias Akhomach, a call that surprised many supporters who expected at least one of them to feature.

The omission reflects how deep Morocco's attacking options have become rather than any decline in Ben Seghir's ability. With eight forwards named in a competitive squad, the coach faced difficult choices, and the young Leverkusen man was among those to miss out.

Why the Decision Caused Debate

Ben Seghir's exclusion became one of the talking points around Morocco's squad announcement in May 2026. For a player performing in the Bundesliga and scoring for the national team, missing a home-continent World Cup felt harsh to many fans.

Ouahbi opted for experience and tactical balance in his forward line, trusting established names. The debate underlines both the strength in depth Morocco now enjoy and the high bar a young player must clear to make a World Cup squad.

A Bright Future Ahead

At just 21, Ben Seghir has time firmly on his side. A strong run at Leverkusen and continued international goals should put him in contention for the next major tournament cycle and beyond.

For Morocco, his development is part of a deep talent pool that bodes well for the future. Missing out in 2026 is a setback, but for a player of his age and ceiling, it is far from the end of his international story.

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