Moroccan international Yassir Zabiri has made a significant impact in Spanish football, scoring his seventh La Liga goal of the season in Racing Santander's 2-2 draw with Valencia on Sunday. Zabiri's goal came in the 32nd minute at El Sardinero, where he latched onto an Iñigo Vicente pass and finished past Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski. This goal cancelled out Dani Raba's early opener and helped secure a draw for Racing Santander.
Zabiri's impressive start to the season has drawn attention from Spanish outlet Marca, which has placed him alongside Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe in the scoring standings. With seven goals in eight league appearances, Zabiri is now among La Liga's most productive attackers. Barcelona's Raphinha remains clear at the top with 12 goals. Zabiri's remarkable run has been significant for Racing Santander, who returned to Spain's top flight this season after winning the Segunda Division.
Zabiri joined Racing Santander in July on a season-long loan from Stade Rennais, with the agreement running until June 30, 2027. The loan deal does not include an option to buy, meaning Zabiri remains under contract with the French club until 2029. However, Marca reported that Racing Santander could explore an agreement with Rennes that would give the Spanish club priority should they attempt to sign the striker permanently.
Zabiri's rise to prominence began with his decisive role in Morocco's historic 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup triumph in Chile. He finished as the tournament's Golden Boot winner with five goals, including both strikes in Morocco's 2-0 victory over Argentina in the final. Rennes signed him from Famalicao in February 2026 before sending him to Racing Santander to gain regular first-team football.
With seven league goals already, Zabiri is now only three away from the 10-goal target he set for himself when he arrived in Santander. His rapid start has placed the Moroccan among some of La Liga's biggest attacking names. Zabiri's impressive form has been particularly notable given that he announced himself with a hat-trick against Elche in his first La Liga start, before scoring twice against Alaves and finding the net against Barcelona.
Zabiri's goal against Valencia was a significant moment in the match, as it cancelled out Dani Raba's early opener and helped secure a draw for Racing Santander. The draw was a valuable result for Racing Santander, who are looking to establish themselves in La Liga after their promotion from the Segunda Division.
As Zabiri continues to impress in La Liga, he will look to maintain his form and help Racing Santander achieve a strong finish to the season. With his loan deal from Stade Rennais running until 2027, Zabiri has a significant amount of time to develop his skills and potentially secure a permanent move to Racing Santander.
Key points
- Yassir Zabiri has scored seven La Liga goals in eight appearances, tying with Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe.
- Zabiri joined Racing Santander on a season-long loan from Stade Rennais in July.
- Zabiri's impressive form has drawn attention from Spanish outlet Marca, which has placed him among La Liga's top scorers.
