Rabat – Moroccan striker Yanis Begraoui has written his name into Estoril Praia’s history books after scoring his 32nd goal for the Portuguese club in its opening game of the 2026-27 Liga Portugal season against Famalicão.
The goal moved Begraoui ahead of Alejandro Marqués, who previously held Estoril’s scoring record with 31 goals. Begraoui reached the milestone in only 72 appearances, while Marqués needed 117 matches to reach his total.
The record underlines the Moroccan forward’s importance to Estoril and highlights his impressive development since moving to Portugal in 2024.
A breakthrough season in Portugal
Begraoui enjoyed the best campaign of his career during the 2025-26 season.
The striker scored 20 goals in 34 Liga Portugal appearances, finishing third in the league’s scoring charts behind Luis Suárez and Vangelis Pavlidis.
His form was particularly impressive at the beginning of 2026. In January, Begraoui scored a hat-trick against Estrela da Amadora before adding two goals in consecutive matches against Vitória SC and Santa Clara.
His performances earned him the Portuguese Players’ Union Player of the Month award for January, further underlining his growing influence in Portuguese football.
His goalscoring form also attracted interest from clubs outside Portugal, with several European teams reportedly monitoring his performances.
From Toulouse to Estoril
Begraoui’s career has included experience in both France and Portugal.
Born in France to Moroccan parents, the forward developed through the youth system at Toulouse FC, where he progressed through the club’s academy before making his senior debut.
He later moved to AJ Auxerre, continuing his development in French football before making the switch to Portugal.
In 2024, Begraoui joined Estoril Praia, a move that allowed him to establish himself at senior level in one of Europe’s competitive leagues.
Since arriving at the club, he has gradually become one of Estoril’s most important attacking players. His consistent goalscoring has now placed him at the top of the club’s historical scoring list.
A record built on efficiency
Begraoui’s record is even more impressive when his appearances are taken into account.
The Moroccan has scored 32 goals in 72 matches, giving him an average of around 0.44 goals per game for Estoril.
He now leads the club’s scoring ranking ahead of:
- Yanis Begraoui: 32 goals in 72 appearances
- Alejandro Marqués: 31 goals in 117 appearances
- Kléber: 29 goals in 82 appearances
- Roberto: 27 goals in 55 appearances
- Léo Bonatini: 24 goals in 52 appearances
At just 24 years old, Begraoui also has time to extend his lead and set a record that could stand for years.
A player to watch for Morocco
Begraoui’s rise at Estoril has also increased attention around his international future.
The striker has represented Morocco at youth level and remains part of a generation of Moroccan players looking to establish themselves in European football.
With his scoring numbers continuing to improve, his progress could become increasingly relevant to Morocco’s senior national team, particularly as the Atlas Lions continue to expand their pool of attacking options.
