Zakaria Bakkali
A Belgian winger who burst onto the scene as a teenage sensation at PSV, his career becoming a nomadic search for the form that once made him Europe's next big thing.
Born 1996 (age 30)·Belgian footballer·Birthday: January 26·Millennials
Biography
Zakaria Bakkali's narrative is a stark reminder of football's fleeting nature and intense pressure. Of Moroccan descent and born in Liège, he was a youth prodigy whose dazzling dribbling and fearless play earned him a place at PSV Eindhoven. His breakthrough was meteoric: at 17, he scored a hat-trick in the Eredivisie, becoming the youngest player ever to do so in the Netherlands. The world seemed at his feet, with Europe's elite clubs reportedly circling. Yet, consistent opportunities at PSV grew scarce, and a high-profile move to Valencia in Spain failed to reignite his spark. What followed was a series of loans and transfers across Europe, from Spain to Switzerland, and later to clubs in Cyprus and Morocco. While the explosive winger who terrorized Dutch defenses has only appeared in flashes since, his early achievements remain a permanent part of Eredivisie lore.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Zakaria was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Zakaria Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Zakaria's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in Eredivisie history, achieving the feat at 17 years and 196 days for PSV.
- Made his senior debut for the Belgian national team in 2014 under manager Marc Wilmots.
- Won the Belgian Pro League title with Club Brugge during the 2019-20 season.
- Helped PSV win the Johan Cruyff Shield (Dutch Super Cup) in 2012.
Did You Know?
He holds dual Belgian and Moroccan nationality.
Bakkali's historic hat-trick was scored against NEC Nijmegen in August 2013.
He played alongside Memphis Depay in the PSV Eindhoven youth academy and first team.
“I learned that talent alone isn't enough; you need the right mentality.”
