Eliesse Ben Seghir, a promising talent in Moroccan football, recently faced a significant setback in his burgeoning career by being left off the national team roster for the upcoming World Cup. At just 21 years old, Ben Seghir, who stands as the second most expensive signing in Bayer Leverkusen's history, was not selected by coach Mohamed Ouahbi. This decision underscores the fact that, at this moment, the young player's immense talent has yet to translate into consistent performance on the pitch.
His exclusion from the squad is particularly painful given Ben Seghir's exceptional abilities. Born in Saint-Tropez in 2005, he chose to represent Morocco internationally, the homeland of his parents, and has long been recognized as one of Europe's most exciting football prospects. Bayer Leverkusen made a bold investment in the player, having paid Monaco €32 million during the final days of the last summer transfer window, but his stock has been on a decline. Currently valued at €20 million according to Transfermarkt, his market worth may drop even further without the global showcase of the World Cup.
Ben Seghir is known for his flair and creativity as a left winger; he delights in dribbling, exhibits remarkable agility, and possesses a diverse array of top-tier technical skills. Though he is right-footed and capable of playing on either flank, he must enhance his goal contributions and improve tactically and defensively. Sometimes, raw talent alone is insufficient to succeed at the highest levels of competition.
Having developed through Monaco's youth ranks, Ben Seghir made his first-team debut at the tender age of 17 in November 2022 during the Europa League. Within months, he had emerged as one of the standout talents of the club. During the 2024-25 season, under coach Adi Hütter, he netted 9 goals and provided 4 assists in 46 matches across all competitions. It initially seemed that the Bundesliga could serve as a stepping stone to the Premier League or another elite European club, but this season has proven challenging for him at Bayer Leverkusen, where instability has hampered his play. He has only participated in 17 matches across all competitions, failing to score or assist.
Ben Seghir has never shied away from expressing his admiration for Neymar and his affinity for FC Barcelona. In an interview with Onze Mondial, he revealed that he grew up watching the Catalan giants and was always attracted to their style of play. This attraction has led to speculation about a potential move to Barcelona, who have kept tabs on his development during his time at Monaco. A standout performance against Benfica in the Champions League at the end of 2024 caught the attention of Barça scouts, as he scored a goal just 12 minutes into the match. He even scored against Barcelona during the Joan Gamper Trophy in the 2024-25 season, but now finds himself in a vastly different situation.
With his omission from the World Cup squad, Ben Seghir’s position in the Moroccan national team has diminished, as the coaching staff has opted for other attacking players like Brahim Díaz, Abde Ezzalzouli, Soufiane Rahimi, Ayoub El Kaabi, Chemsdine Talbi, Gessime Yassine, and Ayoube Amaimouni. The latter three, all accustomed to playing on the wing, have notably overshadowed him. The question remains: will he be able to rediscover his best form during the 2026-27 campaign? For now, he will have to watch the World Cup from the comfort of his home.
As reported by sport.es.
