Growing up, Brahimi emulated his idol, Zinedine Zidane

Brahimi was born in Paris to Algerian parents, giving him dual nationality. While growing up in the eastern suburbs of Paris, he became known for emulating the style of French football star Zinedine Zidane while playing street football with friends. He would spend hours watching video footage of the French star and try to reproduce his tricks, along with those of Brazilian legend Ronaldinho. He told FIFA.com, “They were the ones who made me want to play football and pushed me to work on my technique.”

Source: ESPNFC.com

He signed a youth contract with Rennes due to their commitment to education

Though several French and European clubs courted him while he was at the renowned Clairefontaine Academy, Brahimi decided to sign an aspirant, or a youth contract, with Stade Rennes. He said in October 2010 that his decision was based on Rennes’s commitment to education. “In Rennes, the academy gives much importance to schoolwork. It was a warranty for my parents. They advised me to choose Stade Rennes. That way, I could continue my football training while preparing my baccalauréat.”

Source: StadeRennesFC.com

Brahimi’s loan to Granada in 2012 marked the start of his emergence as one of the best African players in the game

After returning to Rennes in 2010 after a loan season at Clermont, Brahimi clashed several times with manager Frédéric Antonetti, and suffered a string of several injuries. In 2012, he was loaned to Granada for a season where his technical style of play was celebrated, and more in tune with the team in Spain. The following season, he was voted the Best African Player of the 2013-14 season at the Liga de Fútbol Profesional Awards.

Source: BBC.com

He wears No. 8 at FC Porto, the former number of Rabah Madjer

Not afraid to follow in the footsteps of a legend, Brahimi wears the No. 8 for Porto, the same number famously worn by Rabah Madjer during the European Cup Final in 1987. In that game, Madjer scored an incredible back-heel goal against Bayern Munich and helped bring the first international trophy to Estadio do Dragao, a football stadium in Porto, Portugal, and the home of F.C. Porto.

Brahimi was offered the chance to play for Algeria in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but turned it down

After a successful season on loan to Clermon in 2009, Brahimi was contacted by the Fédération Algérienne de Football to join the Algerian team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Since he’d only played at the youth level for France, Brahimi was still eligible to switch his international allegiance at the professional level. At the time, Brahimi turned down the opportunity to continue his international career with France.

He switched his international allegiance to Algeria in February 2013

Brahimi is a former French youth international, having represented France at all youth levels, including the under-19 team that reached the semi-finals of the 2009 UEFA European Football Championship. In Feburary 2013, Brahimi switched his international allegiance to Algiera and began playing in qualifying matches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He scored his first international goal for Algeria in its group-stage 4-2 victory against South Korea at the World Cup.

Brahimi helped Algeria reach the round of 16 for the first time at the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Though he was left out of Algeria’s opener against Belgium, his stellar performance against South Korea and an incredible assist to Islam Slimani to net a 1-1 draw against Russia helped move Algeria out of the group stage for the first time. It was his stellar performance at the World Cup tournament that caught the attention of F.C. Porto.

Brahimi sold 80% of his economic rights to Doyen Sports for 5 million euros

After signing with F.C. Porto in July 2014 for 6.5 million euros for a five-year contract, Brahimi sold 80 percent of his economic rights to Doyen Sports for 5 million euros ($6.26 Million US). Essentially, Doyen financed Porto’s deal to sign the midfielder, and thus retained a large portion of his economic rights.

Source: ThePortugalNews.com

Since joining Porto, Brahimi has greatly improved his composure

While always known for his technical style of play and aggressive attacks on offense, Brahimi has added an extra dimension to his game. His improved composure in front of the goal resulted in six goals and four assists in his first 14 matches for the club, and he’s expected to continue to improve and perform.

Source: BBC.com

His two goals and one assist in four matches helped secure Algeria in the 2015 AFFCON

Brahimi also seems to be meshing better with the new Algerian coach, Christian Gourcuff, whose training sessions are supposedly markedly more relaxed than those of the previous coach, Vahid Halilhodzic. Coming off their success at the World Cup, Algeria is poised to make a splash at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, if it is able to get past Ebola concerns.

Source: ESPNFC.com