PortuGOAL Figure of the Week: Brilliant Begraoui bags another brace for Estoril | OneFootball

Yanis Begraoui celebrates scoring yet another goal for Estoril. (Photo: https://estorilpraia.pt)

From the timeless defiance of 42-year-old Nenê for AVS, to the dream debut of Benfica’s Anísio Cabral, GW19 served as the latest showcase of Liga Portugal’s breadth, blurring lines between inevitable and improbable.

Goals were in abundance with 8 of the 18 Primeira Liga teams scoring three or more goals in their weekend matches.

In Estoril on Saturday night it was another ‘Cathro Clinic’ but perhaps nobody should be surprised. After all, the Estorilistas have scored as many goals as rampant leaders FC Porto, having scored 4+ goals on five occasions in the current league campaign.

Usual suspect Yanis Begraoui took centre stage once again following his audacious third goal to complete his hat-trick against Estrela da Amadora last week.

The Moroccan international delivered a masterclass in rupturing off-ball movement to the detriment of Allianz Cup conquerors Vitória SC, grabbing a brace in a 4-2 drubbing – his twelfth and thirteenth league goals of the campaign as he displaced Spanish international Samu Aghehowa on the podium in the race for the domestic golden boot.

The latest PortuGOAL Figure of the Week is a primary protagonist in Estoril’s ever more realistic pursuit of European football, as they sit four points off a top five finish. Kevin Fernandes reports.

From Étampes to Estoril

Yanis Redha Begraoui was born in an urban community on the outskirts of Paris, with his ancestral home residing in the Moroccan imperial city of Meknes.

Until reaching the U-23 squad of the Atlas Lions, Yanis would represent France on 21 occasions at youth international level, both nations evidently being deeply respected by Begraoui.

A Moroccan soul refined with French precision, Begraoui’s formative years were shaped at Auxerre’s respected academy where he would eventually make his debut in senior football.

Excluding short productive spells for Toulouse’s B team and Ligue 2 Pau, Yanis struggled to translate early promise into senior success. It seemed an eternity had passed since writing that he was ‘knocking on the door of the professionals’ as an intrepid, highly anticipated U-17 starlet.

The Cascais coast would truly open the appetite of Étampes’ finest. Begraoui started making waves after departing Toulouse.

The Canarinho Karim

Earning natural, loose aesthetic comparisons to the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, Begraoui’s senior international debut for Morocco seems inevitable given his current trajectory.

The 24-year-old has contributed to 14 goals in 16 starts, which is the most productive season of his senior career although we are barely halfway through the campaign. He has established a formidable connection and fluid attack with the likes of classy creator João Carvalho and elite dribbler Rafik Guitane.

It is safe to say that Estoril’s number 14 has adapted well to his surroundings.

Yanis shines out of possession, creating indecision between defenders, attacking their blind sides as a proficient space manipulator.

Begraoui isn’t particularly imposing or dominant physically, but has an audacious side as a two-footed, technically secure footballer who allows his teammates to benefit from his work and create varied offensive dynamics without a recognised, constant figurehead leading the attack.

While in his most productive phase of his career, doubts surrounding how Begraoui prepares for the decisive moment are slowly disappearing, evidently evolving as a defensively responsible and competent player, justly applauded by the demanding Ian Cathro.

Only Yanis Begraoui’s evolution and current form could overshadow the debuts of Anísio Cabral and Daniel Banjaqui, or the last-minute heroics of Luis Javier Suárez, to be crowned PortuGOAL Figure of the Week in a wholly deserved if slightly overdue fashion.