Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz has continued to impress with his remarkable form for Morocco. On Monday, he scored the first hat-trick of his senior career in a dominant 7-0 victory over Lesotho in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
This performance came just days after he scored twice in a 5-1 win against Gabon, doing so within a quick three-minute period.
Brahim opened the scoring against Lesotho in the 5th minute and then doubled the lead in the 15th minute. He completed his hat-trick in the 42nd minute.
Crucial for Morocco
Brahim’s performance was crucial to Morocco’s dominant display, and even after being substituted in the 62nd minute, his impact on the match was undeniable.
In just eight games for Morocco (six competitive matches and two friendlies), Brahim has scored seven goals and provided two assists, making him the top scorer in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
This is all the more impressive considering he missed the previous international break due to a muscle injury.
The Real Madrid forward, who now wears the number 10 shirt for Morocco, has shown he is in outstanding form. With Rodrygo currently sidelined through injury, the youngster’s performances have strengthened his position as a key player for both Morocco and Real Madrid.
Carlo Ancelotti may now consider him for a starting role in the upcoming La Liga match against Leganes on Sunday.
If the coach opts for a 4-3-3 formation, Brahim could join Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe in the attacking trio. With his recent run of form, Brahim looks set to play an important role for both his national team and club.
So far this season, the Moroccan has settled for a secondary role, playing just 254 minutes across all competitions. Interestingly, 131 of those 254 minutes have been accumulated while coming from the bench.
With a performance such as this, Brahim is clearly sending a subtle message to Ancelotti ahead of crucial fixture congestion.
