According to a report from The Athletic, it has come to light that sources close to Real Madrid believe that Brahim Diaz has recovered well from the emotional fallout of the Africa Cup of Nations final.
While the scars of that night may never fully fade, those around the club feel the winger has shown impressive mental strength since returning to Spain.
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The AFCON final was meant to be the crowning moment of Brahim’s international rise.
What happened to Brahim?
Morocco were locked in a tense, goalless battle against Senegal, with history within touching distance.
Deep into second-half added time, Diaz won a penalty that could have ended his country’s 50-year wait for the trophy and secured his place in Moroccan folklore.
Instead, the moment turned into heartbreak, as Brahim attempted a Panenka penalty.
The gamble failed badly, as Edouard Mendy stayed rooted to the spot and caught the ball with ease, leaving the stadium stunned.
Brahim seems to be recovering from his international heartbreak. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
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The impact on Brahim was immediate and visible. Understandably, he looked devastated.
After the tournament, attention turned to how Brahim would respond. Mental setbacks of that scale can linger, especially for attacking players whose confidence is central to their game.
A strong return
As such, his return to Real Madrid suggested a player determined to move forward rather than hide from the moment.
Brahim made his comeback appearance against Villarreal, and while his minutes were limited, the symbolism came late in the match.
With Madrid awarded a penalty in the closing stages, Kylian Mbappe stepped up and calmly executed a Panenka of his own to make it 2–0.
Mbappe dedicated the goal to Brahim, which was a subtle but powerful show of support that showed the unity inside the Madrid dressing room.
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