Ayoub El Kaabi Poised to Finish Europa League Campaign as Joint Top Scorer Despite Early Exit
Ayoub El Kaabi remains in strong contention to finish as the Europa League’s joint top scorer, despite Olympiakos being knocked out in the Round of 16 and the Moroccan striker missing both legs through injury.
The 31-year-old forward had already registered seven goals in just eight appearances before his side’s elimination at the hands of Norway’s Bodø/Glimt. Remarkably, that tally is enough to place him level at the top of the scoring charts alongside Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Bodø/Glimt’s Kasper Høgh — both of whom required significantly more matches to reach the same total.
El Kaabi, who also finished as top scorer in the UEFA Europa Conference League last season, is now on the verge of achieving back-to-back European scoring honours.
A feat made even more notable by his absence during the decisive knockout round fixtures due to injury.
With the final set to take place between two Premier League rivals, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, all eyes will be on Fernandes.
Should the Portuguese midfielder fail to find the net on Wednesday night, El Kaabi would retain his position at the summit of the scoring leaderboard, sharing the accolade with Fernandes and Høgh.
For El Kaabi, such recognition would be yet another high point in a career marked by persistence and goal-scoring prowess.
The Moroccan international, capped 52 times for his country and scorer of 26 international goals, has previously topped the scoring charts in domestic and continental competitions.
He was the leading marksman in Morocco’s top flight in 2021 and claimed the golden boot in the Europa Conference League the following season.
This potential triumph would, however, be his first individual accolade in UEFA’s second-tier tournament, underscoring his consistent form across multiple seasons and competitions.
Despite Olympiakos bowing out early, El Kaabi’s overall contribution this campaign has been considerable. He has played 44 matches across all competitions, scoring 27 goals and delivering 7 assists — an output that helped the Greek giants clinch the domestic title.
El Kaabi’s career has spanned several clubs and countries, with notable spells at RS Berkane, Wydad Casablanca, and Turkish side Hatayspor before making his way to Olympiakos.
His scoring instinct, aerial threat, and positional awareness have made him a key figure for both club and country.
Whether or not Fernandes adds to his tally in the final, El Kaabi’s performance this season is already etched into the narrative of the competition.
His efficiency — seven goals in just eight appearances — stands in stark contrast to his competitors’ longer campaigns, highlighting the impact he had in a limited time.
As the Europa League final approaches, El Kaabi will be watching from the sidelines, his fate tied to one final 90-minute contest. But whatever the outcome, his name is now firmly in the conversation among Europe’s most efficient and effective forwards of the season.
