Larbi Benbarek

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Larbi Benbarek or Larbi Ben Barek (also known as the Black Pearl) (June 16, 1914 - September 16, 1992) (Casablanca, Morocco) was a Moroccan football player. He was the first player to bear the nickname of Black Pearl.

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 to Marseille, France at the age of 20, and became an instant favourite with the fans for his skills.

His career was interrupted by the onset of World War II but he was soon back to his best with Stade Français and then in Spain, with Atlético Madrid, where he truly blossomed and where his international fame spread.

He returned to Marseille in 1953, but finished his career with no single title. One of the finest players ever to represent France, his adopted country, he made 17 appearances for the French national team between 1938 and 1948. 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.

Larbi Ben Barek died in his home town on 16 September 1992.