Five matches where Bounou stole the show

• Yassine Bounou has dazzled for Al Hilal at FIFA Club World Cup
• He showcased his skills against Real Madrid and Manchester City
• The Moroccan goalkeeper was also one of the stars of Qatar 2022

Yassine Bounou has left an unforgettable mark at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ for his incredible performances.

The Moroccan goalkeeper, nicknamed The Spider, has been one of the stars of the show as Saudi side Al Hilal reached the the quarter-finals after a historic 4-3 victory over Manchester City.

“The goalkeeper is half the team” – conventional wisdom in the world of football, but very few stoppers have proven it like Bounou. Whether for Morocco or Al Hilal, he has delivered exceptional performances on the biggest stages.

Ahead of Al Hilal's quarter-final clash with Fluminense FC, FIFA takes a look at five unforgettable matches that have proved that Bounou is more than just a keeper – he is a craftsman of moments that live on in the memories of fans, cementing himself as one of the world’s best shot-stoppers.

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Morocco v Spain

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 | Round of 16

In the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Round of 16, Morocco faced a star-studded Spain. After a goalless draw, the match went to penalties, and Bounou became a national hero. He saved efforts from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets, while Pablo Sarabia’s shot struck the post after Bounou guessed correctly. What's more, Morocco made it to the shoot-out only because of Bounou’s earlier heroics. He saved two dangerous shots during regular and extra time to keep a clean sheet and pave the way for a historic achievement: Morocco’s first-ever World Cup quarter-final.

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Morocco v Portugal

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 | Quarter-finals

Fresh off the Spain upset, Bounou continued to deliver in the quarter-final against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. He pulled off three vital stops, including a rocket from Joao Felix, for a second straight clean sheet. Morocco won 1-0, becoming the first Arab and first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final. Bounou played a pivotal role in making history by shutting out the world’s top attackers in consecutive knock-out matches.

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Al Hilal v Real Madrid

FIFA Club World Cup 2025 | Group stage

In a thrilling group stage match against Real Madrid C. F. at the FIFA Club World Cup, Bounou stole the show. He denied a penalty in the final moments to salvage a draw, adding to his five other stops – including four from inside the box against the likes of Vinicius Junior and Gonzalo Garcia. The 1-1 draw kept Al Hilal’s knockout hopes alive. Despite not winning the Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match – an honour he would claim in the following match against FC Salzburg – Bounou was absolutely the star.

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Al Hilal v Manchester City

FIFA Club World Cup 2025 | Round of 16

Just days later, Bounou showed his superhero skills once again to rescue Al Hilal against Manchester City by stopping 11 shots, eight of them from inside the penalty area. Outmatching the Premier League giants' attackers, Bounou displayed mind-bending skill with his stops of clear 1v1s. Bounou’s saves carried his team during a first half dominated by City, giving his team-mates the opportunity to mount a second-half comeback and pull off a 4-3 victory in extra time.

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Sevilla v Roma

2023 UEFA Europa League | Final

In one of the defining nights of his European club career, Bounou played a starring role in the 2023 UEFA Europa League final against Jose Mourinho’s Roma. After a 1-1 draw – featuring two huge saves from Bounou – the match went to penalties. With nerves of steel, the Moroccan goalkeeper stepped up once again, denying Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibanez to hand Sevilla their seventh Europa League title and earn Man of the Match in the process.

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