Rabat – French striker Olivier Giroud has praised his Lille teammate Ayyoub Bouaddi following the Moroccan midfielder’s impressive performance against Brazil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Bouaddi played a central role as Morocco held the five-time world champions to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group C match.
Despite being only 18 and making his World Cup debut, he showed confidence, calmness, and physical strength against Brazil’s experienced midfield.
Speaking to the BBC, Giroud said Bouaddi’s maturity had impressed him both on and off the pitch.
“I have been very impressed by his maturity,” Giroud said. “He has a very good environment around him. He is calm, confident, and keeps his personality.”
Giroud added that Bouaddi had become an important presence in Lille’s dressing room.
“It is a blessing to have him in the team,” he said. “I think Morocco are very happy to have him.”
Compared to Vieira and Vusquets
Giroud said friends had sent him edited pictures comparing Bouaddi to former France captain Patrick Vieira and Spanish midfield legend Sergio Busquets.
The veteran striker said the comparison reflected Bouaddi’s wide range of qualities, although the Moroccan still has room to develop.
“He is not yet at Busquets’ level technically, but he has some of those skills,” Giroud explained.
“He may still lack some of Vieira’s physical power, but he will grow, become stronger and develop.”
Giroud also compared Bouaddi’s ability to cover ground and influence different areas of the pitch to former France midfielder N’Golo Kanté.
“He is a complete player and can perform several roles,” he said. “He moves everywhere on the pitch. He is a little like Kanté.”
Giroud identifies area for improvement
Giroud believes Bouaddi’s finishing is the main part of his game that still requires work.
The two Lille players have reportedly joked about the midfielder’s lack of goals during the season.
“The one thing he needs to improve is his finishing,” Giroud said. “He knows that because we have joked with him a lot about it this year.”
Giroud added that Bouaddi must become more decisive and efficient when he reaches attacking positions.
He then jokingly suggested that adding goals to his game could earn him a major move.
“If he gets that, he will play for Real Madrid next year,” Giroud said.
Growing transfer interest
Giroud estimated that Bouaddi’s transfer value had already moved above $60 million or $70 million.
He admitted that Lille could struggle to keep the young midfielder if Europe’s leading clubs make serious offers.
Real Madrid, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Liverpool have all been linked with Bouaddi following his rise in France and his performance against Brazil.
However, the midfielder recently said that his immediate focus remains Morocco’s World Cup campaign.
The Atlas Lions will face Scotland in their second group match before completing the first round against Haiti.
