Sports performance Vs Players market value 498
🌍⚽ Reflecting on my participation as a panelist at MedDays 2025, hosted by the Amadeus Institute
I had the opportunity to speak on the theme: “Beyond the pitch: football as a vector of development,” analyzing the key drivers that are transforming Moroccan football into a continental model for Africa.
🇲🇦 1. A transformation driven by a royal vision since 2008
Morocco’s victory at the U20 World Cup is no coincidence. It is the direct result of a long-term strategy built around:
- the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI
- the launch of the Mohammed VI Football Academy
- massive nationwide infrastructure plan
- the Evosport Morocco model for professionalizing youth development
- methodological continuity from U15 → U20
- and the decisive work of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) since the appointment of Fouzi Lekjaa.
🏆 2. Morocco U20 vs Argentina: a sporting… and economic victory
🇲🇦 Morocco U20 squad value: €11M
🇦🇷 Argentina U20 squad value: €62M
➡️ Despite a 6x difference in market value, Morocco dominated Argentina and won the World Cup. Yet: only 13% of our players exceed €1M in valuation. In the Botola, no player is valued above €1,000,000 while the average market value of players in Argentina’s domestic league is €2M (and €4M for Argentinians playing abroad).
👉 Our performances far exceed our market valuation. For those interested in going deeper, I am sharing below (in the link) a data-driven comparative analysis on U20 talent valuation.
📊 3. DATA: the next strategic frontier
To close the valuation gap, Morocco must accelerate its data structuring efforts.
In this context, innovative Moroccan solutions are emerging and leading the way, such as Reborn, developed by Youssef MAAROUFI and Fayçal Amine Louryagli, recently awarded in the NBA Africa Start-up Program—a strong signal that local innovation can reinforce our digital transformation. Special mention to Fayçal Bouchafra (Evosport Morocco) for his continued support.
💹 4. Agents & access to top leagues
The world’s biggest clubs rely on a small and trusted circle of top-tier agents.
Without direct access to these networks, sporting performance alone is not enough to trigger major transfers.
5) Key message delivered at MedDays:
The U20 World Cup proves that Morocco is not underperforming—it is undervalued.
The next battle is no longer sporting; it is economic.
Producing champions is no longer enough: we must now convert performance into long-term market value for our clubs, our league, and the entire Moroccan football ecosystem.
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