Brahim Maza, the 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen playmaker, has reached a new career milestone by finishing ninth in the 2026 Kopa Trophy rankings. His performance, recognized during the Ballon d'Or ceremony, places him among the world's most promising young players alongside Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, and Warren Zaïre-Emery. Since his 2025 move to Leverkusen, Maza has seamlessly adapted to elite football, recording 44 appearances, 5 goals, and 8 total assists—including two in the Champions League—during the 2025-2026 season. His market value rose to 50 million euros in October 2026. On the international stage, Maza has solidified his role for Algeria, scoring twice with one assist during the 2026 AFCON and featuring in all four of his country's matches at the 2026 World Cup, proving his growing influence on the pitch.