| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Profession | Footballer |
| Physical Stats | |
| Height (approx.) | 6' (183 cm) |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Dark Brown |
| Football | |
| Debut | CAF Confederation Cup - 18 July 2018 for Raja Club Athletic against ASEC Mimosas Botola Maroc Telecom (now Botola Pro Inwi) - 25 August 2018 for Raja Club Athletic against Chabab Rif Al-Hoceima Coupe du Trône Marocaine - 2 September 2018 for Raja Club Athletic against Chabab Atlas Khénifra CAF Super Cup - 29 March 2019 for Raja Club Atheltic against Espérance Sportive de Tunis CAF Champions League - 15 September 2019 for Raja Club Atheltic against Al-Nasr SC African Nations Championship (CHAN) - 18 January 2021 for Morocco national football team against Togo International Friendlies 12 June 2021 for Morocco national football team against Burkina Faso UAE Arabian Gulf League - 11 September 2021 for Al Ain FC against Baniyas Sports & Cultural Club UAE League Cup - 15 October 2021 for Al Ain FC against Emirates Club FIFA Arab Cup - 1 December 2021 for Morocco national football team against Palestine Africa Cup of Nations - 10 January 2022 for Morocco national football team against Ghana UAE President's Cup - 8 December 2022 for Al Ain FC against Dibba SCC UAE Super Cup - 25 February 2023 for Al Ain FC against Sharjah FC AFC Champions League - 19 September 2023 for Al Ain FC against Pakhtakor Tashkent Olympic Games - 24 July 2024 for Morocco Olympic football team against the Argentina Olympic football team AFC Champions League Elite - 16 September 2024 for Al Ain FC against Al Sadd SC FIFA Intercontinental Cup - 22 September 2024 for Al Ain FC against Auckland City FC |
| Jersey Number | Al Ain FC • #21  Morocco Olympic football team • #9  Morocco national football team • #21  Raja Club Athletic • #21  • #37  EJS Casablanca • #7  |
| Domestic/State Team(s) | • Raja Club Athletic (2006-2021) • Al Ain (2021-Present) • EJS Casablanca (2017-2018) |
| Coach/Mentor(s) | • Juan Carlos Garrido (Football Manager) • Serhiy Rebrov (Footballer, Football Manager)  • Patrice Carteron (Footballer, Football Manager)  • Alfred Schreuder (Footballer, Football Coach)  • Hernán Crespo (Footballer, Football Coach)  • Vahid Halilhodžić (Footballer, Football Manager)  • Hussein Ammouta (Footballer, Football Manager)  • Walid Regragui (Footballer, Football Manager)  • Tarik Sektioui (Footballer, Football Coach)  |
| Position | Left Winger |
| Records (main ones) | • In 2021, he scored the fastest goal in the history of African Nations Championship by scoring in the first minute of the quarterfinal match against Zambia. • During the 2024 Summer Olympics, he became the all-time top scorer for Morocco in Olympic football with a total of 8 goals and the first Arab player to finish as the top scorer in the Olympic football tournament. • During the 2024 Summer Olympics, he became the first player to score in six consecutive matches in a single edition of Olympic Games. • He became the first player to score against teams representing five different continents in a single edition of Olympic Games at the 2024 Summer Olympics. |
| Medals | Gold • 2018: CAF Confederation Cup  • 2021: CAF Confederation Cup  • 2021: African Nations Championship in Cameroon  • 2022: Pro League Cup in Abu Dhabi  Bronze • 2024: Summer Olympic Games in Paris  |
| Awards, Honours | • Botola Pro Best Young player (2018–19) • Botola Pro Best Player (2019–20, 2020–21) • Eagle of the Month (November 2019, August 2020, December 2020)  • Best Player in African Nations Championship (2020) • Top Scorer in African Nations Championship (2020) • African Nations Championship Team of the Tournament (2020) • Raja CA Player of the season (2020) • Best Player of the Season by the UMFP (Moroccan Union of Professional Players) (November 2020)  • Eagle of the Season award by Verde Passione (December 2020)  • Botola Pro Top assist provider (2020–21) • Raja CA Goal of the Season (2021) • Best Player and Top Scorer awards during the African Nations Championship (2021)  • UAE Pro League player of the month (September 2021, November 2021, February 2022, October 2022, February 2023, September 2023)  • UAE Pro League Fans' Player of the Year (2022, 2023, 2024)  • UAE Pro League Team of the year (2022, 2023) • UAE Pro League Fantasy Week 6 Top Scorer (2022)  • ADIB Cup Player of the Match award (December 2022, May 2023, September 2023, October 2023, February 2024)  • AFC Champions League MVP (2023–24) • AFC Champions League top scorer (2023–24) • Olympics Games top scorer (2024) • FIFA Intercontinental Cup top scorer (2024) • IFFHS World's Best International Goal Scorer (2024) |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 2 June 1996 (Sunday) |
| Age (as of 2024) | 29 Years |
| Birthplace | Casablanca, Morocco |
| Zodiac sign | Gemini |
| Autograph |  |
| Nationality | Moroccan |
| Hometown | Casablanca, Morocco |
| Religion | Islam |
| Food Habit | Non-vegetarian |
| Hobbies | Swimming |
| Social Media | • Instagram • YouTube |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Family | |
| Wife/Spouse | Widad Lm |
| Children | Daughter- Amira Rahimi (Born in 2023) |
| Parents | Father- Mohamed 'Youaari' Rahimi (Footballer, Kit Manager) |
| Siblings | Brother- Houssine Rahimi (Footballer) |
| Favourites | |
| Footballer | Hernán Crespo |
| Style Quotient | |
| Car Collection | • SEAT Leon  • Mercedes Benz  |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Soufiane Rahimi
- He grew up in a house that was adjacent to the training ground of Raja Club Athletic (Raja CA) and would often perform ball boy duties for the team.
Soufiane Rahimi, during his childhood with Mostafa, a veteran football player of Raja FC
- His father, Mohamed ‘Youaari’ Rahimi, was initially a goalkeeper for Raja CA, but due to a car accident, he couldn’t continue to play football. Instead, he served as a kit man at the club for more than 40 years.
- Initially, Soufiane Rahimi’s father wanted him to be named ‘Botol,’ which means ‘Champion,’ as he was born on the day Raja CA won the Moroccan league title in 1996.
- Encouraged by his family and friends, due to his football talent, he joined various local clubs before joining the Raja CA.
- He started out as a right back at the beginning of his career and slowly transitioned to playing as a winger.
- He was loaned to EJS Casablanca from Raja CA for a year in 2017.
- He returned to Raja CA in 2018 and helped his club win several tournaments, including the Confederation Cup in 2018 and 2021, as well as the African Super Cup in 2019 and the Botola Pro 1 in 2019-20.
Sofiane Rahimi celebrating while holding the Botola Pro 1 trophy
- He played for the Moroccan national A’ team in 2018.
- He has represented Morocco at the international level in various tournaments, including the African Nations Championship in 2020, FIFA Arab Cup in 2021, the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021, and the 2024 Summer Olympics, where he was selected as one of the three overage players of the Moroccan Olympic football team.
Soufiane Rahimi during the 2024 Summer Olympics
- During an interview in 2021, he expressed his desire to participate in European football leagues such as the Serie A and said,
My contract with Raja is still short, I think, one day, to live an experience outside Morocco, ideally in a big European club.”
- He played his last match with Raja CA on 21 August 2021 during the 2020 Arab Club Champions Cup Final against Al-Ittihad Club and helped his team win the tournament.
- He joined the Emirati club, Al Ain FC, in August 2021 and scored his first goal for the club on 17 September 2021, helping them to win against Kalba Football Club by 4-1 in the UAE Pro League.
Soufiane Rahimi celebrating after scoring his first goal for Al Ain FC
- He scored his first hat-trick for AL Ain FC on 15 March 2023 and helped his team win against Ajman Football Club by 4-0 in the UAE Pro League.
- He played in the UAE Pro League for Al Ain FC and helped the club to win the 2023–24 AFC Champions League, ending the tournament as the top scorer with 13 goals.
Soufiane Rahimi holding the AFC Champions League trophy
- During an interview, he revealed that he came from a modest family and received an allowance from King Mohammed VI that helped him to study. He said,
I grew up in a modest family. Despite their limited means, my parents always fulfilled their duties to the family. My father was a simple baggage handler at Raja Casablanca, my mother paid for my studies thanks to a monthly allowance received from King Mohammed VI.”
- He was nominated for the African Footballer of the Year award on 24 October 2024.
- In August 2024, he extended his contract with Al Ain FC to 2028.
Soufiane Rahimi signing to extend his contract with Al Ain FC
- He considers Argentina’s veteran footballer and coach Hernán Crespo as his idol.
- He is a swimming enthusiast.
Soufiane Rahimi during a swimming session
- He is a fitness enthusiast who works out regularly at the gym.
Soufiane Rahimi during a workout session
