By OkayGoal 
Real Betis winger Abdessamad Ezzalzouli has broken his silence after being ruled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, calling on Moroccans to stand united behind the Atlas Lions.
The 24-year-old suffered a knee injury during Morocco’s 1-1 warm-up draw against Norway, forcing him off at halftime.
Medical checks later confirmed the injury would require several weeks of recovery, making participation in the tournament unrealistic. Amine Sbai was called up from the standby list as his replacement.
In a heartfelt message following the news, Ezzalzouli acknowledged the pain of missing out while leaning on his faith.
“Missing such an important tournament is a huge blow, and I won’t pretend it doesn’t hurt. But it’s in difficult times that faith, patience, and gratitude truly come into their own. Alhamdulillah for everything,” he said.
Ezzalzouli is not alone in his misfortune – defender Nayef Aguerd was also ruled out, with Marwane Saadane named as his replacement.
The Atlas Lions had held out hope that both players would recover in time, but made the official squad changes before the FIFA registration deadline.
Despite his personal devastation, the winger urged the nation to rally behind the team.
“I want to wish our team every success. I’m convinced they will do everything they can to represent our country with pride. I call on all Moroccans to stand united behind them and support them every step of the way,” he added.
Morocco open their World Cup campaign against Brazil at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey – a daunting first test, though one the Atlas Lions will face without two of their key players.
With Ezzalzouli absent, much of Morocco’s attacking burden is expected to fall on Brahim Diaz.
Ezzalzouli’s measured, selfless response has drawn widespread praise from supporters, with many highlighting his maturity in one of the most difficult moments of his international career.