Yanis Ben Chaouch Wins Golden Glove After Leading Morocco to Glory in Youth World Cup
After the historic victory of the Moroccan U-20 team in the Youth World Cup in Chile, Yanis Ben Chaouch emerged as one of the key symbols of this achievement.
The young goalkeeper, aged 18 and playing for AS Monaco, delivered an exceptional performance throughout the tournament, earning him the Golden Glove award as the best keeper. He saved 68 attempts and conceded only 3 goals, most of which were from penalties, while keeping his net clean in two matches.
In the semifinal against France, he stole the spotlight with decisive saves, notably stopping a shot from his Monaco teammate, Lucas Michel, in the 31st minute. Despite suffering a thigh injury and having to leave the field in the 64th minute, his presence and confidence propelled his teammates to qualify through a penalty shootout, winning 5-4 after a 1-1 draw.
Ben Chaouch missed the final against Argentina due to the injury, which will sideline him for two weeks. However, his pivotal role in reaching the final earned him the FIFA award for best goalkeeper of the tournament.
National team coach Mohamed Wahbi praised him, stating he was “the reason for the team’s continued presence in the competition,” highlighting his quick reflexes and high confidence.
Yanis, who chose to represent Morocco despite offers from France and Algeria, embodies the spirit of a new generation rewriting Moroccan football history.
After Morocco clinched the title against Argentina with a score of two to one, Ben Chaouch caught the attention of major European clubs, including Aston Villa, which sent scouts to monitor him.
In his first statement after the injury, he expressed, “The pain is worth it, as we have written a new chapter in Morocco’s history. This title belongs to all Moroccans, and we will return stronger.”
Yanis Ben Chaouch is not just a goalkeeper; he represents an ambitious Moroccan generation that believes in belonging before glory, paving the way for new talents to follow in the footsteps of Yassine Bounou.
