Who is the Arab Ben Mubarak nicknamed the "black jewel" before Pelé?

The first Arab actor to play in European football, Ben Mubarak, a Moroccan Arab star, joined Marseille in the late 1930s before heading to Spain.

Ben Mubarak was nicknamed "The Black Jewel", a title that then passed to Brazilian football legend Pelé. He was characterized by his strength, speed and technical ability, as well as his ability to achieve ambitious goals.

Ben Mubarak was born June 16, 1917 in Casablanca and grew up orphan. His grandmother promised to raise him, which forced him to work in minor jobs such as carpentry.

His passion for football and his difficult economic situation led him to leave school before the end of primary and play boxing alongside football.

Ben Mabrouk is associated with the neighborhood where he lives and became famous for his talents in Morocco and joined the Moroccan club Alessam.

In 1938, Ben Mubarak joined the Olympique de Marseille, becoming the first Arab player to play in Europe.

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Ben Mubarak led Marseille to second place in Ligue 1 and finished the season with 12 goals, but his career stopped after just one season due to the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939.

Ben Mubarak returned to Morocco after the start of the war and spent six seasons with Al Ittihad Sports Club. After the end of the war, the Moroccan star resumed her career in France, but this time with the French club Stade France and brilliantly scored 50 goals in 90 games and was nicknamed "The Black Jewel".

Ben Mubarak became the center of European clubs and has already moved to Atletico Madrid in 1948 for a record amount of 17 million French francs. He scored with the Swedish striker Karlsson the best offensive duo in Spain.

Moroccan star Atletico Madrid won the title of Spain champion in 1951 and 1952, the Spanish Cup in 1951, and scored 56 goals in 113 matches in five seasons.

In the summer of 1953, Ben Mubarak returned to Marseilles at the age of 36 years.

After the end of his professional career, Ben Mubarak returned to Morocco and took over the training of the club then the Moroccan star and the Moroccan team.

Ben Mubarak has received a great tribute from the Brazilian star Pelé, quoted by the media: "If I'm the king of football, Ben Mubarak is his god."

Ben Mubarak died on 16 September 1992 at his home in Casablanca.

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