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Just weeks after helping Crystal Palace win the UEFA Conference League, Chadi Riad is preparing for the biggest stage of his career. Included in Mohamed Ouahbi's 26-man squad, the young defender is set to experience his first World Cup with the Atlas Lions.
At just 23, Riad represents both the present and future of Morocco's defense. Born in Palma de Mallorca to Moroccan parents, he began his football journey in Spain before joining Barcelona's famed La Masia academy at the age of 16.
Ironically, his childhood role model was not a Barcelona legend but former Real Madrid defender Raphaël Varane. «He was so good with the ball, good in the aerial duels. He never seemed to lose a header. He's someone I admired a lot when I was coming through as a defender», Riad once said.
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After progressing through Barcelona's youth ranks and making his first-team debut in 2022, Riad continued his development at Real Betis, where he gained valuable La Liga experience and matured alongside seasoned professionals. His performances soon attracted attention from England, earning him a move to Crystal Palace in 2024.
A New Era in Defense
Although injuries disrupted his first months in the Premier League, he fought his way back into the team and capped his comeback by helping Palace lift the UEFA Conference League trophy in May 2026, the first European title in the club's history.
On the international stage, Riad rose steadily through Morocco's youth teams before making his senior debut in January 2024. He was part of the squad at the Africa Cup of Nations that year and scored his first goal for the Atlas Lions against Congo in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.
Now, as Morocco prepares to begin its World Cup campaign, Riad is expected to play a central role in a defensive unit entering a new era following the withdrawal of Nayef Aguerd. For a player who has spent the past few years quietly climbing the ranks, the World Cup offers an opportunity to confirm his status as one of the cornerstones of the Atlas Lions' future.
