Zakaria Labyad makes Morocco 23rd foreign nation at Corinthians

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Central do Timão

·26. Februar 2026

Zakaria Labyad makes Morocco 23rd foreign nation at Corinthians

By Ciro Hey / Central do Timão Editorial Team

With the arrival of Zakaria Labyad, Corinthians increases its historical diversity and adds Morocco to the list of nations already represented by foreign players in official matches. Now, there are 23 countries represented by athletes who have played for Timão in official games. The new signing also raises to 81 the number of foreign players signed by the club throughout its history.

In the current squad, Corinthians has six foreign players: Pedro Milans (Uruguay), Fabrizio Angileri (Argentina), André Carrillo (Peru), Rodrigo Garro (Argentina), Zakaria Labyad (Morocco), and Memphis Depay (Dutch).

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Although it is one of the most traditional clubs in Brazilian football, Corinthians has built, over the decades, a strong relationship with athletes from outside the country. In fact, foreign influence has been present since the earliest records of the club's history.

The first goal in Corinthians' history was scored by an international player. On September 14, 1910, the Italian Luiz Fabbi found the net in a 2-0 victory over Estrela Polar at Campo do Lenheiro, a result that also marked the club's first official win.

The foreign presence at Corinthians has always had a strong connection with South American football. In total, 54 players from South America have worn the black-and-white shirt, a number considerably higher than any other continent. Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay lead this historical connection, but Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Venezuela have also made significant contributions.

Despite the geographical proximity, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana remain exceptions, as they are the only South American countries that have never had a player feature for Corinthians.

Europe stands as the club’s second main international hub. According to historical research by Meu Timão and Almanaque do Timão, Corinthians has already had 20 European players, including athletes from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, England, and the Netherlands.

Other continents have had only occasional representation. North America, for example, has recorded only one player in Corinthians’ history: defender André Passantino, from the United States, signed in 1991.

Zakaria’s arrival also brings Africa back into Corinthians’ history. Until now, only one athlete from the continent had played for the club: South African striker Mark Frank Williams, in 1996. The Moroccan midfielder thus becomes the second African to wear the black-and-white shirt.

The participation of Asian athletes at the Parque São Jorge club is also rare. To date, only three countries from the continent have been represented at Corinthians: Japan, with Koichi Hashimoto; China, with Chen Zhi Zhao (Zizao); and Lebanon, represented by Nasi Felippe (Amendoim).

The geographical breakdown also brings an interesting fact: to this day, Corinthians has never had players from Central America or Oceania. Another peculiar fact involves foreign athletes who joined the club but never debuted in official matches. Only three fit this scenario: Argentine midfielders Emiliano Vecchio (2009) and Mariano Torres (2009), as well as Paraguayan goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla (2010).

Among the foreigners who made the biggest impact at Corinthians, Paraguayan Ángel Romero stands out. A record holder among the club’s international athletes, the forward has played 377 matches and scored 67 goals, numbers that establish him as the foreigner who has worn the Corinthians shirt the most times.

Check out below the list of foreign players who have worn the black-and-white shirt:

🇦🇷 Argentina (17)

Gabriel PeresCarlos ButticeHector VeiraFernando ÁvalosCarlos TévezJavier MascheranoSebá DomínguezGermán HerreraSergio EscuderoMatias DefedericoEmiliano Vecchio*Mariano Torres*Juan MartínezMauro BoselliFausto VeraRodrigo GarroFabrizio Angileri

🇺🇾 Uruguay (9)

Armando Graham BellMartín TabordaDaniel GonzálezHugo De LeónSantiago SilvaAlberto AcostaNicolás LodeiroBruno MéndezPedro Milans

🇵🇾 Paraguay (9)

Juan Carlo VillamayorCarlos Alberto GamarraEdgar BalbuenaAldo Bobadilla*Ángel RomeroGustavo Agustin VieraFabián BalbuenaSergio DíazMatías Rojas

🇮🇹 Italy (7)

Luigi FabbiRafael PerroneFelipe ValenteFrancesco PoliceGiuseppe Ammirati (José Almirante)Waldemar RiccioliMário Castelli (Rato)

🇨🇱 Chile (5)

Júlio César de SouzaJohnny HerreraCristián SuárezClaudio MaldonadoÁngelo Araos

🇵🇹 Portugal (5)

Casemiro do AmaralHorácio CoelhoLaurentino de MelloJoaquim RochaRafael Ramos

🇨🇴 Colombia (4)

Freddy RincónStiven MendozaVíctor CantilloYony González