AFCON star who missed crucial penalty was viewed as Mohamed Salah successor

Real Madrid attacker Brahim Diaz was linked with a move to Liverpool a year ago and was touted to replace Mohamed Salah, but the Morocco star is now known remembered for his penalty miss in the AFCON final

Brahim Diaz was linked with a move to Anfield this time last year(Image: AP)

Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz will be forever remembered for his unfortunate penalty miss during the Africa Cup of Nations final.

However, just a year ago, he was being tipped as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool. The 26-year-old, born in Spain, is a product of Manchester City's academy, having joined from his hometown club Malaga when he was just 16.

He made the move to Madrid in 2019 and has been at the Bernabeu ever since, albeit with a three-season loan spell at AC Milan from 2020 to 2023. Two years ago, Diaz pledged his allegiance to Morocco and shone at AFCON, finishing as the tournament's top scorer.

But his name will always be associated with a tumultuous final, where a disallowed Senegal goal and a late contentious penalty decision for Morocco led to Diaz's opponents briefly leaving the pitch.

Diaz was given the dubious penalty and made an even more dubious choice, attempting a Panenka that landed straight into the welcoming arms of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

After being substituted in extra time, he was seen on the bench in tears as his country suffered a 1-0 defeat. Yet only a year ago, Diaz was surrounded by a much more positive narrative.

Diaz missed a penalty in the AFCON final(Image: Getty Images)

With Liverpool's star player, Salah, yet to sign a new contract at Anfield, the highly-rated Diaz was being suggested as a possible successor. In January 2025, Liverpool was on a winning streak, but Anfield was rife with speculation about Salah.

The Egyptian's contract was nearing its end, and talks over a new deal had hit a roadblock, causing quite a commotion. Reportedly, the club turned its attention to the transfer market in search of a potential Salah replacement.

Diaz was one player reportedly identified by the Reds due to his ability to play wide or drift inside. However, they faced stiff competition from Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund for his signature.

Ultimately, Salah extended his contract for another two years, but he has since fallen out of favor under Arne Slot. Following a blistering interview in which he claimed he had been sidelined and someone at the club wanted him out, he could leave soon.

Meanwhile, Diaz remained with Madrid and continues to be part of the first-team squad, primarily coming off the bench.

He has started just three La Liga matches this season. However, Diaz is likely to be remembered for some time for his controversial penalty decision at AFCON for Morocco. Following the mistake, he issued an apology.

"I failed and I take full responsibility and apologise with all my heart," Diaz said. "It will be hard for me to recover because this wound does not heal easily, but I will try.

"Not for myself, but for all who believed in me and for all who suffered with me. I will keep going until someday I can give back all this love and be a pride for my Moroccan people."