Noussair Mazraoui: United ace inspires hard-fought World Cup win | OneFootball

Manchester United full-back Noussair Mazraoui continued his impressive run at the FIFA World Cup with another fine showing against Scotland. The Moroccan was an integral part of the African nation’s strong run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where they reached the semi-finals.

One of Mazraoui’s assets is his versatility, with the player comfortable operating at left-back as well as right-back positions. The 28 year old also filled in at centre-back last season for United against Chelsea, helping pick up a hard-fought 1-0 win.

Noussair Mazraoui Stats: 2025/26 Season

Source: Transfermarkt.

The Moroccan featured exclusively at left-back in the 2022 World Cup and has been used in the same position in this year’s edition of the mega event. After starting the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Brazil, the Atlas Lions arrived at the game against Scotland eager to pick up three points.

Morocco dominated Scotland

Morocco enjoyed a blistering start to the game when Ismael Saibari found the back of the net after just 72 seconds. The PSV forward also scored against Brazil and is reportedly on his way to Bayern Munich.

The Bavarians were interested in Marcus Rashford this summer, but as relayed previously by The Peoples Person, they have identified the 25 year old as a cheaper alternative to the Englishman. On Friday, Saibari’s goal put a spring in Morocco’s step, with the African nation dominating the proceedings.

Scotland did have a few chances to get back into the game, while Mohamed Ouahbi’s team had opportunities to increase the lead as well. However, Saibari’s goal proved to be the turning point in the game, putting Morocco in a strong position to secure qualification for the knockout stages.

The Atlas Lions registered 12 shots in the game, three of which were on target, while Scotland failed to muster a single shot on target. Key to Morocco’s dominance was another strong performance from Mazraoui.

Mazraoui was assured against Scotland

Mazraoui was not much of an attacking threat against Scotland, but his defensive discipline was just what Morocco needed. The United ace registered 70 touches of the ball, managing 54 passes with a 94% passing accuracy.

The Moroccan registered two long balls, both of which found their intended target, but his solitary cross did not reach a team-mate. In a gritty match that needed a lot of tenacity, Mazraoui won two of his four ground duels and one of his two aerial duels.

He committed one foul and was fouled twice. While the United full-back registered three clearances, he was dribbled past once.

Noussair Mazraoui Stats vs Scotland: 2026 FIFA World Cup

Source: Sofascore.

Final Thoughts

United will be keeping a close watch on Mazraoui’s performances at left-back, especially since the position remains an area of concern. Luke Shaw is coming off an impressive campaign, but he will turn 31 next month and his injury history does not make for a good read ahead of a fixture-congested season.

The Red Devils could be tempted to add more cover to the position, but their desire to reinforce the midfield and attack could spare very few resources for the job. In such a scenario, the Moroccan could prove to be a handy stop-gap solution, although he will have to improve his attacking output to suit Michael Carrick’s tactics.

Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images

online polls

The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social