World Cup 2026: African talent outshines Musiala and Yamal

Algerian international Ibrahim Maza is emerging as one of the biggest revelations of the 2026 World Cup. Thanks to his outstanding performances during the group stage, the Fennecs' attacking midfielder currently tops the tournament's dribbling leaderboard.

With 13 successful dribbles in three matches, the Bayer Leverkusen player sits firmly in first place.

Maza ahead of Musiala and Yamal

Delivering a top-class first round, Ibrahim Maza has outperformed several players renowned for their technical prowess, including the likes of Lionel Messi, Jamal Musiala, Lamine Yamal, and Yan Diomandé.

His most impressive display came against Austria, where he pulled off six dribbles and played a big part in Algeria's spectacular 3-3 draw. The young Algerian also stood out in the match against Jordan, where he was named man of the match for his constant influence on his team's play.

According to official FIFA statistics, the ranking of the best dribblers at the 2026 World Cup after the group stage is as follows:

1. Ibrahim Maza (Algeria) – 13 dribbles
2. Tahith Chong (Curaçao): 11 dribbles
3. Julio Enciso (Paraguay): 11 dribbles
4. Lee Kang-in (South Korea): 11 dribbles
5. Yan Diomandé (Ivory Coast): 11 dribbles

Ibrahim Maza, Leverkusen says no to suitors

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.

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