Luis Enrique Draws Zinedine Zidane Comparison to Defend Brahim Diaz After AFCON Defeat

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has defended Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz after his penalty miss cost Morocco the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Spaniard drew comparisons with Zinedine Zidane and Sergio Ramos, claiming Diaz’s boldness would have been praised had he not missed.

Morocco lost 1-0 against Senegal in a highly controversial AFCON final on Sunday night. In the second half injury time, Senegal’s goal was ruled out before the referee awarded Morocco a penalty.

Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest of the decision, halting play for nearly 20 minutes. The game eventually resumed with Diaz taking the penalty.

The winger attempted a Panenka penalty, but Edouard Mendy held his ground, leading to a simple save. It has been claimed that the miss was intentional, as Diaz did not want to fuel fan unrest inside the stadium.

However, Mendy insists Diaz’s penalty miss was not on purpose and believes he deserves credit for saving the winger’s attempt.

Enrique Draws Zidane Comparison to Defend Diaz Penalty Miss

Diaz has received criticism for attempting a Panenka in such a crucial moment of the game. However, Enrique has reminded that even the great Zidane and Real Madrid legend Ramos showed such audacity.

“We talked about it on the bus today. Everyone’s talking about Brahim.  But I remember Zidane, who’s a footballing god, and he did it in the World Cup final [1998],” said Enrique ahead of PSG’s Champions League clash with Sporting CP.

“I  remember Sergio Ramos doing that. If you score a great goal, everyone applauds. But if you miss, there are a lot of negative comments.”

Morocco fans are divided on Diaz. While some want him dismissed for life, others believe he played well in the tournament.

“My Soul Hurts” – Diaz opens up after missing AFCON penalty.

Morocco star Brahim Diaz admits his “soul hurts” after missing a crucial penalty in his country’s Africa Cup of Nations final loss to Senegal. The Real Madrid ace won Morocco a controversial penalty deep into stoppage… pic.twitter.com/10Qr6lr1bI

— SINGLE (@Young_Fish01) January 20, 2026

In the aftermath of the AFCON final, Diaz has received threats and overwhelming online hate. Enrique showed his support for the player and claimed he should not be vilified as a “murderer.”

“Brahim Diaz is a magnificent player. I know him. I called him up for a match with the Spanish national team. He’s an exceptional player and a very good person,” Enrique added to the topic.

“I understand that it’s difficult to accept. It was strange, but it’s a sport, nothing more. The most important thing is the values ​​you can transmit to people. Brahim is not a murderer or a bad person. It’s important to say that.”

Diaz scored five goals in AFCON, winning the Golden Boot. The Real Madrid player was in tears as he walked up to receive the individual accolade.