Background
Benbarek was born and raised in the protectorate of French Morocco.
Benbarek was born and raised in the protectorate of French Morocco.
He was the first player to bear the nickname of Black Pearl. Larbi rose to fame in the French league and played for France. The first African star and the first to bear the nickname of "Black Pearl", Ben Barek blazed a trail to the European, and particularly French and Spanish, leagues.
He arrived in Marseille, France at the age of 20, and became an instant favourite with the fans for his skills and technical abilities.
Pele took the name of the "Black Pearl" after he made a famous statement about Larbi: "If I am the King of Football, then Larbi Ben Barek is the God of it". He is largely remembered as the first successful black football player in Europe.
His career was interrupted by the onset of World World War II but he was soon back to his best with Stade Français Football Club and then in Spain, with Atlético Madrid, where he truly blossomed and where his international fame spread. His nickname with the fans in Spain was "The Foot of God".
He returned to Marseille in 1953.
In 1955, he joined USM Belorussian-Abbès, where he ended his playing career. One of the finest players ever to represent France, he made 19 appearances for the French national team between 1938 and 1954. But his comeback in 1954 against Germany in Hanover was curtailed by an injury after half an hour and proved to be the end of his career.
He was the first coach of the Morocco national team following its independence from France.
Larbi Ben Barek died in his hometown on 16 September 1992.