Chelsea’s ‘new Messi’ sets off a tug-of-war between Morocco and England

Ibrahim Rabbaj, known as the “Chelsea’s Messi”, sparked a fierce rivalry between Morocco and England for his allegiance. Born in London in 2009 to an English mother and a Moroccan father, the young prodigy has three nationalities-French, English and Moroccan, making him eligible to represent each of these countries at the senior level

Rabbaj’s footballing journey began early, joining the Charlton Athletic class when he was just seven. In 2021, he moved to Chelsea, where he impressed coaches with his skills and footballing flair. Playing for Chelsea’s under-16 side, he scored an incredible 52 goals and provided 60 assists in just 40 games.

With an elegant left foot reminiscent of Lionel Messi, Rabbaj is known for his long-range shots, intelligent passing, and versatility on the wing or as a playmaker, but some of his turns present challenges in physical competition, a weakness he works diligently to overcome

A move has been made to secure Rabbaj, who has already played for Under-15 teams in both Morocco and England. Moroccan officials are reportedly in talks with his family, hoping to motivate him to represent Morocco in the future.