 Brahimi lining up forAlgeria in 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yacine Nasreddine Brahimi[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1990-02-08)8 February 1990 (age 35)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Paris, France | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Winger,attacking midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Al-Gharafa | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2000 | Montreuil | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2004 | Vincennois | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2006 | Clairefontaine | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2006 | Paris Saint-Germain | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | Rennes | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2013 | Rennes | 39 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | →Clermont (loan) | 32 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | →Granada (loan) | 27 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Granada | 35 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2019 | Porto | 148 | (39) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2022 | Al-Rayyan | 56 | (25) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022– | Al-Gharafa | 59 | (36) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | France U16 | 7 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | France U17 | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | France U18 | 5 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | France U19 | 11 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | France U20 | 5 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2012 | France U21 | 8 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Algeria A' | 6 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2024 | Algeria | 69 | (15) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 30 August 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Yacine Nasreddine Brahimi (Arabic:يَاسِين نَصْر الدِّين إِبْرَاهِيمِيّ; born 8 February 1990) is a professionalfootballer who plays for and captains the Qatari clubAl-Gharafa. Born in France, he plays for theAlgeria national team.[3][4][5] He plays as anattacking midfielder and awinger and is described as "technically gifted".[6] Yacine is also known for his "Brahimi Moments" (Portuguese: "Momentos Brahimi").[7]
Brahimi began his career with various clubs in theÎle-de-Franceregion, having trained at ASB Montreuil and CO Vincennois. In 2003, he was selected to attend theClairefontaine academy. Brahimi spent three years at the academy and, upon leaving, signed withRennes. While in the club's youth academy, he achieved several club honours. After turning professional, Brahimi was loaned out tosecond division clubClermont Foot. While at Clermont, he had a successful individual2009–10 season. After spending the previous season there on loan, he moved to theLa Liga clubGranada CF in 2013, and then to Porto for €6.5 million one year later.
An Algerian international, Brahimi is a formerFrance youth international having represented the country at all youth levels. In 2009, he played on theunder-19 team that reached the semi-finals at the2009 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. In February 2013, Brahimi switched his international allegiance to Algeria and made his debut for them a month later, also playing at the2014 FIFA World Cup and the2015,2017,2019 and2021 Africa Cup of Nations, winning the 2019 tournament.
Brahimi was born in Paris to Algerian parents and grew up in the eastern suburbs of Paris inMontreuil inSeine-Saint-Denis.[8] While growing up, he often emulatedZinedine Zidane while playingstreet football with friends.[9] Brahimi began his football career playing for his local club ASB Montreuil. After a four-year stint there, he joined CO Vincennois, known for producingLigue 1 playerBlaise Matuidi, in nearbyVincennes. Two years later, Brahimi was selected to attend the renownedClairefontaine academy in 2003 in order to further his development.[10] While training at Clairefontaine during the week, he regularly played for Vincennois on the weekends. In his final year at Clairefontaine, Brahimi spent a year at theCamp des Loges, the youth training centre ofParis Saint-Germain, training alongside youth international teammateMamadou Sakho.[10] Despite being courted by several French and European clubs, following his stint at Clairefontaine, he signed anaspirant (youth) contract withRennes. In October 2010, Brahimi cited choosing Rennes as his destination because of the club's educational value, stating, "In Rennes, the academy gives much importance to the schoolwork", and, "It was a warranty for my parents. They advised me to choose Stade Rennes. That way, I could continue my football training while preparing myBaccalauréat."[10]
Brahimi joined Rennes and quickly became a part of a slew of talent in the club's youth academy. He joinedDamien Le Tallec (the younger brother ofAnthony Le Tallec),Yann M'Vila,Yohann Lasimant,Kévin Théophile-Catherine andSamuel Souprayen as the club's most sought after prospects. The combination of M'Vila, Brahimi, Camara and Le Tallec (all four being members of the class of 1990) were particularly instrumental in their youth team's successes. With the under-16 team, the foursome won the Tournoi Carisport, a national tournament that regularly pits the top academies in France against each other. Two seasons later with the under-18 team, Brahimi won the under-18 league championship for the 2006–07 season. In 2008, the youth academy achieved its biggest honour after winning theCoupe Gambardella. The title was Rennes' third Gambardella Cup and its first since 2003 when the likes ofYoann Gourcuff andSylvain Marveaux were playing in the competition. Following the2007–08 season, on 23 June, Brahimi signed his first professional contract agreeing to a three-year deal until June 2011.[11] Though on a professional contract, Brahimi was not assigned a number on the senior team and instead played on the club'sChampionnat de France amateur team in the fourth division appearing in 22 matches and scoring three goals helping the side finish 1st among professional clubs in their group, thus qualifying for thecompetition's playoffs, where they lost toLyon in the semi-finals.[12]
Following a successfulinternational season withFrance, Rennes decided it would be best to send the young player on loan to receive some much needed playing time. On 3 July 2009, the club announced that Brahimi would join Ligue 2 clubClermont Foot on loan for the entire2009–10 season.[13] Brahimi arrived at the club following the2009 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship, alongside fellow loanee fromJuventusCarlo Vecchione, and was assigned the number 28 shirt. He made his professional debut on the opening match day of the season appearing as a substitute in a 2–1 defeat toArles-Avignon.[14] He scored his first goal for the club on 25 September converting apenalty in the club's 3–2 win overAngers.[15] Brahimi's first goal in open play occurred on 4 December in Clermont's 3–1 win away toBastia.[16] Two weeks later, he scored again, converting another penalty in a 1–1 draw withGuingamp.[17]
On 23 March 2010, Brahimi scored the opening goal in Clermont's 3–0 win overAjaccio.[18] Three days later, he scored a goal and provided an assist in a 3–1 away victory overIstres.[19] A month later, Brahimi converted his third penalty of the season in a 3–2 victory overDijon.[20] The win moved Clermont up to 4th position in the league standings and just three points off a promotion place. The following week, Brahimi continued to display his offensive prowess scoring againstLe Havre. However, the match ended in a 2–1 defeat for Clermont.[21] It was the club's first defeat in a match where Brahimi had scored a goal. Three days later, Brahimi scored his eight goal of the campaign in a 3–1 victory againstGuingamp.[22] The victory established apromotion playoff match on the final match day of the season as fourth-placed Clermont faced third-placed Arles-Avignon with the victory earning promotion to Ligue 1. Unfortunately for Clermont, the club failed to earn promotion to Ligue 1 for the first time in club history as it lost the match 1–0. Brahimi played 89 minutes in the match receiving a yellow card in the process.[23]
Following the season, on 15 May 2010, Rennes managerFrédéric Antonetti confirmed that Brahimi would return to the team, despite interest fromArsenal andReal Madrid, and that he would be heavily relied upon for the2010–11 season possibly serving as theplaymaker replacing the agingJérôme Leroy.[24][25][26][27][28] On 7 August 2010, Brahimi made his club debut for Rennes in the club's opening league match againstLille. He started the match and played 71 minutes in a 1–1 draw.[29] The following day, Rennes announced that Brahimi had signed a four-year contract extension with the club.[30] The new deal was to keep him at the club until June 2014.[31]
On 14 August 2010, Brahimi scored his first career goal for the club in a 3–0 victory overNancy.[32] For a portion of the fall season, the play-maker underwent a dry spell not scoring a goal or providing an assist. As a result, Brahimi began rotating in and out of the starting lineup. After the winter break, Brahimi returned to form scoring and providing an assist in the team's 7–0 hammering ofChampionnat National clubCannes in theCoupe de France.[33] One week later, he scored a double in a 4–0 league win over Arles-Avignon.[34] On 5 February 2011, Brahimi scored a goal against his former youth club Paris Saint-Germain. The long-range driven goal was the only goal of the match as the victory moved Rennes equal on points with PSG for second place.[35]
On 30 August 2012, Brahimi signed on loan forGranada CF of the SpanishLa Liga for €700,000, with the option to sign for €4 million afterwards.[36] This option was taken on 4 June 2013, when he signed a four-year deal at the club.[37] At theLFP Awards, he was voted the best African player of the2013–14 season.[38]
On 22 July 2014,FC Porto announced the signing of Brahimi from Granada for a €6.5 million transfer fee and on a five-year contract.[39][40][41] On 24 July 2014 Porto sold 80% of his economic rights toDoyen Sports for €5 million.[42] The deals effectively made Porto acquired 20% economic rights of the player for €1.5 million.
Brahimi's first goal for the club came in the second leg of theirUEFA Champions League play-off against Lille, scoring directly from a free-kick as Porto advanced to the group stage with a 3–0 aggregate victory.[43] He scored his firsthat-trick for the club in Porto's first match of the Champions League group stage, a 6–0 home win overBATE Borisov on 17 September.[44] In their next European fixture, he had his penalty saved by goalkeeperAndriy Pyatov with the game goalless atShakhtar Donetsk.[45] He scored his first league goal againstC.D. Nacional in a 2–0 win on 1 November. On 5 November, Brahimi scored one goal and assisted another as Porto defeatedAthletic Bilbao 2–0 to secure qualification to the knockout stage of the Champions League.[46]
On 26 June 2015, Porto bought back 30% economic rights from Doyen for €3.8 million.[47]
Brahimi scored one goal as Porto defeatedMaccabi Tel Aviv 2–0 in the group stage of the2015–16 UEFA Champions League.[48]
He left Porto upon the expiration of his contract on 30 June 2019.[49]
On 22 July 2019, Brahimi joinedQatar Stars League sideAl-Rayyan.[50] In his first season, he scored 15 goals and assisted 5 times in 22 appearances in league. The club finished second without to win any trophies, also the team was eliminated in theAFC Champions League playoff round. In his second season, after the team's faltering start, Brahimi was linked with a move to QSL championsAl-Duhail in January 2021.[51]
As early as age 13, Brahimi began featuring with regional youth teams playing forÎle-de-France alongside future youth international teammatesMamadou Sakho,Tripy Makonda,Maxime Partouche andSébastien Corchia. Brahimi made his debut for the under-16 team on 21 March 2006 converting a penalty in a 3–1 victory overGermany.[52] He played with the under-16 team at the 2006 edition of theMontaigu Tournament playing in all four matches the team contested as France were crowned champions defeatingItaly 2–1 in the final.[53] With the under-17 team, Brahimi made his debut on 25 September in aqualification match for the2007 UEFA European Under-17 Championship againstLithuania. France won the match 4–2 with Brahimi making a substitute appearance.[54] Despite appearing in the first round of qualification, Brahimi was absent from the tournament itself, due to the player struggling to adapt at his new club domestically.[10] He later failed to make the team that qualified for the2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which was achieved by virtue of their semi-final appearance in the UEFA-sanctioned tournament. Brahimi made his debut with the under-18 team on 18 December 2007 in afriendly match against Portugal in a 1–0 loss and later featured in two friendly matches against Germany, one of which was played at theGAZi-Stadion auf der Waldau inStuttgart.[55][56]
With the under-19 team, Brahimi appeared in all 19 matches scoring 12 goals. He was immense during the2009 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification scoring a team-leading five goals againstLiechtenstein,Malta and theRepublic of Ireland, scoring two goals each against the Liechtenstein and the hosts.[57][58][59] Brahimi also scored several goals in friendly matches. On 30 March 2009, he scored a goal againstUkraine and, the following month, scored a brace againstFinland in a 7–0 rout.[60][61] At the2009 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, Brahimi scored two goals, one againstSerbia and another againstSpain.[62][63] The match-winning goal against Spain assured France's progression to the semi-finals, where they lost toEngland.[64]
Following a successful season with Clermont, he was contacted by theAlgerian Football Federation, which offered the player an opportunity to play on the team at the2010 FIFA World Cup.[8] Brahimi was set to be named tomanagerRabah Saadane's preliminary squad list for the competition, but turned down the opportunity with his preference being to continue his international career withFrance.[8][65][66] On 12 May 2010, after almost a year not representing France internationally, Brahimi was called up to theunder-20 team bycoach Patrick Gonfalone to participate in the2010 Toulon Tournament. In the team's second group stage match againstJapan, Brahimi scored the final goal in the team's 4–1 victory.[67] He played in all five of the team's matches as France finished in third place.
On 26 August 2010, Brahimi was called up to the under-21 team by coachErick Mombaerts for the first time for2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches againstUkraine andMalta. He made his under-21 debut in the match against Malta. Brahimi played the entire match in a 2–0 victory.[68] He subsequently featured in the team's three matches before dropping out of the selection for the team's friendly match againstSlovakia in February 2011 due to injury.[69]
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In February 2013, it was announced Brahimi had decided to switch hisFIFA national allegiance to represent Algeria.[70] He made his debut a month later as a starter in the 3–1 win overBenin in the2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[71]
On 22 June 2014, Brahimi scored his first international goal, the fourth for Algeria as they won 4–2 againstSouth Korea in the group stage of the 2014 World Cup.[72] He started all of Algeria's group matches, and was a substitute in the round of 16 as they lost in extra time to eventual championsGermany.[73]
Brahimi was also in Algeria's squad for the2015 Africa Cup of Nations. In their first group match, againstSouth Africa, his cross was headed-in for an equaliser as anown goal forThulani Hlatshwayo as Algeria came from behind to win 3–1.[74] In their next match, he was chosen asMan of the Match, although the team lost 1–0 toGhana.[75] Brahimi featured in their next two matches as well, ending with defeat in the quarter-finals against eventual championsIvory Coast.
Described as "technically gifted player", Brahimi is known for his great dribbling abilities and ability to take on players. Described by many coaches and journalists as a "Versatile winger that is unpredictable,"[76] Brahimi has earned himself the name as a great dribbler and a winger with pace and skill, earning himself the 2014 BBC African player of the year.
Brahimi is a practicingMuslim.[77][78]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Clermont | 2009–10 | Ligue 2 | 32 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 8 | ||
| Rennes | 2010–11 | Ligue 1 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 6 | ||
| 2011–12 | Ligue 1 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5[c] | 0 | — | 28 | 3 | ||
| Total | 39 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 53 | 9 | |||
| Granada | 2012–13 | La Liga | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 28 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14 | La Liga | 35 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 36 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 62 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 64 | 3 | |||||
| Porto | 2014–15 | Primeira Liga | 28 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11[d] | 6 | — | 42 | 13 | |
| 2015–16 | Primeira Liga | 33 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7[e] | 1 | — | 44 | 9 | ||
| 2016–17 | Primeira Liga | 22 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[d] | 1 | — | 31 | 7 | ||
| 2017–18 | Primeira Liga | 33 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7[d] | 1 | — | 49 | 12 | ||
| 2018–19 | Primeira Liga | 32 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9[d] | 0 | 1[f] | 1 | 49 | 13 | |
| Total | 148 | 39 | 16 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 39 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 215 | 54 | ||
| Al-Rayyan | 2019–20 | Qatar Stars League | 22 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[g] | 0 | 1[h] | 0 | 26 | 15 |
| 2020–21 | Qatar Stars League | 18 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6[g] | 0 | 1[h] | 0 | 31 | 9 | |
| 2021–22 | Qatar Stars League | 16 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 6[g] | 2 | — | 19 | 6 | ||
| Total | 56 | 25 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 86 | 33 | ||
| Al-Gharafa | 2022–23 | Qatar Stars League | 17 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 22 | 10 | ||
| 2023–24 | Qatar Stars League | 21 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 24 | |||
| 2024–25 | Qatar Stars League | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[g] | 1 | — | 14 | 5 | ||
| Total | 46 | 32 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | 63 | 39 | |||
| Career total | 386 | 116 | 32 | 10 | 32 | 7 | 62 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 516 | 144 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 2013 | 4 | 0 |
| 2014 | 11 | 4 | |
| 2015 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2016 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 9 | 4 | |
| 2018 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 6 | 3 | |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 68 | 15 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 June 2014 | Estádio Beira-Rio,Porto Alegre, Brazil |  South Korea | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup |
| 2 | 6 September 2014 | Addis Ababa Stadium,Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |  Ethiopia | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 3 | 15 October 2014 | Stade Mustapha Tchaker,Blida, Algeria |  Malawi | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 4 | 15 November 2014 | Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida, Algeria | Ethiopia | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 5 | 13 October 2015 | Stade du 5 Juillet,Algiers, Algeria |  Senegal | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 6 | 17 November 2015 | Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida, Algeria |  Tanzania | 1–0 | 7–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7 | 25 March 2016 | Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida, Algeria | Ethiopia | 4–0 | 7–1 | 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 8 | 2 September 2017 | National Heroes Stadium,Lusaka, Zambia |  Zambia | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9 | 10 November 2017 | Stade Mohamed Hamlaoui,Constantine, Algeria |  Nigeria | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10 | 14 November 2017 | Stade du 5 Juillet, Algiers, Algeria |  Central African Republic | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 11 | 2–0 | |||||
| 12 | 4 December 2021 | Al Janoub Stadium,Al Wakrah, Qatar |  Lebanon | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2021 FIFA Arab Cup |
| 13 | 11 December 2021 | Al Thumama Stadium,Doha, Qatar |  Morocco | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2021 FIFA Arab Cup |
| 14 | 18 December 2021 | Al Bayt Stadium,Al Khor, Qatar |  Tunisia | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2021 FIFA Arab Cup final |
| 15 | 26 March 2024 | Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers, Algeria |  South Africa | 2–2 | 3–3 | 2024 FIFA Series |
Porto
Al Gharafa
Algeria
Individual
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