Who is Yassir Zabiri? The Racing Santander Striker Trending in India

Football fans in India have been searching for Yassir Zabiri in mid-September 2026, and the reason is a striking week for the Moroccan striker at Racing Santander. Google Trends India logged roughly 200 searches for his name in the 24 hours around September 16–17, with interest up 100%—a modest count, but one that shows how quickly a breakout LaLiga performance can travel to Indian screens, especially when it involves a match against FC Barcelona.

The Brace That Beat Deportivo Alavés

Zabiri's name first made headlines after Racing Santander's 2-1 home win over Deportivo Alavés at El Sardinero on September 12, 2026. Alavés had gone in front through Fil Koski in the 18th minute, but Zabiri turned the game on his own:

• 38th minute: He led a rapid counter-attack down the right flank and slotted the ball into the far corner to level the score.
• 53rd minute: He got on the end of a cross inside the box to score the winner.

According to Goal.com, the double took him to five LaLiga goals for the season and delivered Racing's second league victory of the campaign—both earned at home. For a club of Racing's size, a striker converting chances at that rate early in the season is a significant story, which explains the attention from Spanish and Moroccan media alike.

How His Coach Framed the Performance

Racing coach José Alberto praised the collective effort rather than singling out his striker, telling Marca (as quoted by Goal.com) that Zabiri would be "on cloud nine" after the match but needed to keep working because he was capable of giving the team even more. It is a familiar pattern with emerging forwards: public praise balanced with a message designed to keep a young player's development on track.

Why the Barcelona Goal Amplified Interest

Search interest in India spiked after Racing's meeting with FC Barcelona. On September 17, 2026, Morocco World News reported that Zabiri described his goal against the Catalan side as the best he has ever scored. The strike came in a match Barcelona otherwise controlled—Barça won 7-2, as detailed in our report on the Raphinha hat-trick against Racing Santander. Because Barcelona have one of the largest fan bases among Indian football followers, a memorable goal against them—even in a heavy defeat—was enough to push an unfamiliar name into India's trending searches.

A Note on the Spelling

Readers will find his name written several ways: Yassir Zabiri, Yasser Zabiri, and even "El Zaabiri" in one headline. All refer to the same Racing Santander forward; the available reports do not establish a single official spelling.

Player Profile at a Glance

Detail	Information
Name	Yassir Zabiri (also written Yasser Zabiri)
Nationality	Moroccan
Club	Racing Santander (LaLiga)
Season tally	5 LaLiga goals (as of September 12, 2026)

Goal tallies change week to week, so fans should check official LaLiga or Racing Santander channels for current figures rather than relying on early-season reports.