The awarding of the title of best African player sparked mixed reactions. After Real Madrid's surprise at Rodri's victory, it is Morocco's turn to show its disappointment, recalls the newspaper The Parisian. Ademola Lookman, the Nigerian from Atalanta Bergamo, was voted best African player of the year, to the great dismay of Moroccan fans who hoped to see Hakimi triumph.
Despite this disappointment, the Parisian full-back quickly returned to the field and delivered an XXL performance against Monaco. His decisive actions and dynamism confirmed his status as an essential PSG player. Since the start of the season, Hakimi has shown himself to be “indestructible, indisputable, sharp, efficient”, establishing himself as one of the best players in the championship.
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“Involved in 20% of the goals scored by his team, the man who has just extended his adventure until 2029 has, in four months, already equaled his highest number of offerings over an entire financial year in Paris (7). He is, with three goals scored, only two lengths from his “seasonal” record in the capital and statistically seems to be progressing at the pace of his reference seasons, in Dortmund (9 goals, 10 assists in 2019-2020) and at Inter Milan (7 goals, 11 assists in 2020-2021). » .
If the title of best African player has escaped him, Hakimi can console himself by noting the immense popularity he enjoys in Morocco. A true national icon, he embodies the success and ambition of a generation. “It’s simple, Hakimi is everyone’s idol, from the youngest to the oldest,” even smiles Abdelaziz Bennij, a former Moroccan international who is now a consultant for BeIN Sports. » “Rarely has a defender achieved this level of popularity. Normally, it is the attackers, the number 10s, the creators who attract the sympathy of the public. But he, beyond the handyman costume that he puts on on the field, also has this personality that seduces people. There is no exuberance or exaggeration in him, just efficiency. »
“We saw him at the World Cup, at the Olympic Games too, where he was an exemplary captain. That's why everyone loves him. His humility, his shyness and his personality make him a bit like the Moroccan Zidane, a guy who is both discreet and capable of leaving his mark on a group,” adds the consultant.
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Born in Madrid, Hakimi chose to represent Morocco, the country of his parents. He quickly became a leader within the selection, taking on increasing responsibilities. “I remember his first call-up in 2016,” says the international and former Moroccan captain, Romain Saïss. He was young, very shy, but we could already see that he had all the makings of a grown-up. I saw him grow up like a little brother, gradually gaining confidence and changing status. »
Hakimi's rise to PSG coincides with his assertion as leader in the selection. “Like what he experiences at PSG where he is forced to take leadership after the departures of Mbappé, Neymar and Messi, Achraf has become a leader and a model for the young people in the selection. »
Its popularity goes beyond the boundaries of sport. Hakimi has become an ambassador of Morocco, a symbol of success for youth. “In Morocco, from the youngest to the oldest, on the street, everyone knows Achraf Hakimi. He became an ambassador of the country. » “At the head of “Achraf Hakimi Foundation”, an association aiming, like that of his friend Kylian Mbappé, to give young Moroccans the necessary tools to achieve their dreams, the famous number 2 has become “number one” in the heart of an entire people. » “He is at the top of the hierarchy, ahead of Bounou, Ziyech and all the others. Thanks to his humility and seriousness, he won the affection of all Moroccans,” says Abdelaziz Bennij.
“Due to his career and his success, Achraf is someone who inspires all Moroccan youth,” continues Romain Saïss. A son of immigrants who managed to make his mark, who became one of the best full-backs in the world and who helped his team break a glass ceiling, to realize that everything is possible, even the impossible, that makes dream of all children. »
