Ibrahim Maza – The Brightest Talent German Football Let Slip Away

Ibrahim Maza is the most valuable player in the 2. Bundesliga, blessed with the talent to become a leading star in the future of European football. Here is all you need to know about the Algerian

Ibrahim Maza is a product of the Hertha BSC youth academy. Since 2018, Maza has been playing for the capital club, progressing from the U14s all the way to the first team. Though he only turns 19 in November, Maza already has a wealth of experience at senior level. Maza has played 23 matches for the senior outfit, including starts in all 7 of Hertha’s matches in the 2024/25 2. Bundesliga campaign. 

With one goal and two assists, Maza has been a key figure in Hertha’s push for promotion. His impressive performances have been acknowledged in the latest Transfermarkt update, where his market value now stands at €8 million. This makes him the most valuable player in the 2. Bundesliga and the 34th most valuable player under 18 worldwide.

Having recently signed a contract extension with Hertha until 2027, Maza’s club future appears secure. However, his international future was, until recently, more fluid. Although he represented Germany at various youth levels, U20 national team coach Hannes Wolf recently confirmed that Maza has chosen to make a one-time switch to represent Algeria, the country of his father’s heritage.

Competition from talents like Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, and Paul Wanner may have influenced his decision, but it marks a significant loss for the DFB, with his exceptional talents hopefully coming to the fore during this analysis.

Injury History

Between July 2023 and January 2024, Ibrahim Maza was sidelined for 184 days, missing 38 matches due to a meniscus injury that required surgery. While his recovery took longer than expected, meniscus injuries are common in professional football and are not typically associated with long-term, career-altering effects.

Player Style

Ibrahim Maza is an Advanced Playmaker. He is a highly technical and creative orchestrator in the final third, embodying the unpredictability, creativity, and confidence typically associated with this role.

Player Model: Dani Olmo

Strengths

High Speed Ball Carrying

Ibrahim Maza is a player who primarily stands out for his technical attributes. This is prominently featured in his ball carrying, where the soon-to-be Algerian international showcases an exceptional ability to retain tight control & slick technical shifts at high speeds. In this way, Maza is frequently able to adapt to opposition challenges, create separation, or draw high-impact set pieces. 

Ball Retention & Balance under Pressure

Despite his slight physical build and unassuming 1.80m stature, Maza exhibits remarkable strength in retaining possession and maintaining balance under opposition pressure. While it’s important for him to continue developing his physicality to adapt to the demands of senior football, he should be cautious about gaining too much muscle mass. Sacrificing his exceptional balance and nimble movement could hinder his unique qualities that make him so effective in tight spaces. Striking the right balance between physical development and preserving his natural agility will be key to his long-term success.

Well-timed Penalty Box Movements

Off the ball, Maza consistently makes intelligent runs into prime scoring and creative positions within and around the opposition's penalty area. He adeptly creates separation from his markers, allowing him to exploit space effectively. Following a pass, he often makes direct movements that establish advantageous angles for penetrative interplay, enhancing his team's attacking dynamics.

Long Range Finishing

Maza is a talented long-range finisher with excellent two-footed technique. He demonstrates a natural instinct in these situations, rarely hesitating or overthinking his options, which enables him to strike the ball with confidence and precision.

Agile Turning & Immediate Tempo Creation

Maza isn't just a high-tempo ball carrier with technical finesse; he also possesses exceptional agility and an extraordinary ability to turn sharply. His nimble body shifts allow him to effortlessly create space from defenders, and his quick acceleration enables him to maintain that separation, leaving opponents trailing behind

High-Impact Defensive Output

Perhaps the area where Maza has made the largest improvement so far in his senior career has been his dedication and commitment to defensive phases. While he initially struggled to meet the out-of-possession demands set by former coach Pál Dárdai, this season, Maza has stepped up his performances.

He frequently takes on a leading role in Hertha’s pressing structure, demonstrating a strong willingness to put in the necessary defensive work. Maza actively tracks runners and isn’t afraid to make physical challenges in midfield, showcasing his development into a more complete player. 

Balances Initiative Seeking & Unselfish Final Third Output

Another mature aspect of Maza’s game is the balance he strikes between being selfish and unselfish in his final third decision-making. His confidence shines through as he actively seeks to make a direct impact on the game. Despite his age, he demonstrates a remarkable ability to take personal responsibility for influencing matches, especially considering he is playing for a historic German club in one of the toughest second tiers in world football.

However, this assertiveness does not come at the expense of his teammates. Maza frequently opts to forgo an unfavorable shooting angle in favor of setting up a teammate in a better position to score. 

⭐Tight Space Manipulation

Maza’s standout quality is undoubtedly his tight-space ball manipulation. His superb first touch, exceptional skill, and creative ingenuity make him incredibly difficult to dispossess in congested areas. He consistently finds unique and imaginative solutions to evade pressure, allowing him to outmaneuver multiple opponents with ease. 

Weaknesses

High-Impact Tempo Changes

Maza’s off-ball movement often enables him to find impactful, unmarked positions within the opposition’s penalty area. However, he struggles to incorporate valuable tempo changes and penetrative runs into his game. Much of his off-ball movement occurs at a consistent pace, and he rarely evaluates opportunities to make incisive runs behind the defense before the pass is played.

This lack of varied tempo in his movement often places him slightly behind his opponents, preventing him from capitalizing on loose balls that appear around the top of the box. 

Receiving Positioning & Left Shoulder Turning

Maza still has considerable room for improvement in his body positioning when receiving possession. He often adopts a closed stance, which forces him to play back into pressure or take his first touch toward the direction from which he received the ball.

Additionally, he seems uncomfortable turning toward his non-dominant left side. Even when opportunities arise to advance play with a left-sided turn, Maza frequently opts to favor his right side instead, limiting his ability to progress the game effectively. 

Crossing & Set Piece Delivery

Maza boasts an impressive technical skill set, but his crossing and set-piece delivery leave much to be desired. He frequently overhits crosses or sends them into low-impact positions. It's surprising that Hertha occasionally entrusts him with indirect set pieces, despite his poor quality in these situations.

This deficiency in crossing significantly hinders Maza's effectiveness as a high-level right winger, as it limits his ability to consistently create goal-scoring opportunities from wide areas. To truly thrive in that role, he must make significant improvements to this aspect of his game.

Low-Impact Pockets for Receiving Possession

Maza’s constant desire to impact the game is commendable, but this assertiveness can sometimes work against him. He often displays a lack of patience when waiting to receive possession, causing him to drop into deeper positions or drift wide to get on the ball. Unfortunately, this tendency leads him into low-impact areas of the pitch, where he is less able to influence the game effectively. 

It’s challenging to distinguish whether Maza's positioning is a personal decision or a tactical directive from the coaching staff, but it’s evident that he has the greatest impact when receiving the ball in half-spaces or central channels in the attacking midfield third. These areas allow Maza to fully utilize his technical skills and creativity, making him a more dangerous and effective presence in attacking situations.

Composure in Possession

While Maza’s extreme verticality and creativity make him an exciting prospect, his decision-making can still be erratic and immature at times. He often resorts to unnecessary one-touch passes under pressure or attempts overly ambitious creative passes, which can disrupt the flow of play. These moments of over-eagerness highlight areas where Maza needs to improve in order to maximize his considerable potential.

Wide-Orientation

On a similar note to Maza’s unrefined composure in possession, the youngster can also still make significant strides in the zones he penetrates in the final third. Too much of Maza’s game flows through wide channels. It’s not only his own positioning, but also the passes which he selects frequently take the game away from the center of the pitch into areas where Hertha can not pose immediate goal threat. 

⭐Creative Passing Distribution

While Maza is not a poor creative distributor, this remains the most significant factor limiting his ability to reach elite potential. His passing often lacks the precision needed at the highest level, with the weight and timing often slightly off. The 18-year-old has a tendency to either play the ball just behind a teammate, overhit the pass, or send his teammate too wide, forcing them away from goal.

It is important to emphasize that while this aspect of Maza's game is not a glaring weakness, it remains a crucial element for an advanced playmaker. Its development—or lack thereof—will play a pivotal role in determining Maza’s ability to reach his full potential and perform at the highest level.

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GRADING

Current Ability

A club/level of club where the player has the qualities to play at least 70% of available minutes right now. 

5/10 - A Relegation-Threatened Bundesliga Outfit

• FC Heidenheim

• Union Berlin

• VfL Bochum

Potential Ability

A club/level of club where the player has the qualities to play at least 70% of available minutes at his career peak.

9/10 - An Elite European Outfit with the potential to compete for titles in all competitions

• FC Barcelona

• FC Liverpool

• Paris S.G.

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OVERVIEW

Ibrahim Maza is an outstanding talent and one of the most exciting teenagers in world football. His technical ability stands out, with excellent ball control, dribbling, and tight space manipulation. Although he's physically slight, Maza compensates with superb balance and robustness, enabling him to compete effectively at senior level. He thrives under pressure, consistently taking the initiative and shouldering significant attacking responsibilities for his age. Maza frequently produces game-changing moments with his individual brilliance, but he also retains an eye for a better-placed teammate in the final third.

Despite his immense potential, there are still key areas where Maza needs to improve to reach the elite level. His play in possession can often be erratic, and his creative passing requires considerable improvement. The weight and timing to his passing is often slightly off. 

Additionally, his body positioning and decision-making in terms of where to receive the ball could be refined. Maza tends to gravitate towards low-value spaces and doesn't always position himself to receive the ball with an open body, limiting his ability to quickly exploit space and evade pressure.

If Maza continues to refine these areas and build on his strengths, he has the potential to enjoy a stellar career. With further development, the youngster could become a formidable player and a key asset for one of Europe’s elite-10 clubs, cementing his place among the game's top talents.

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