Rue20 Spanish/ Fez
Meryem Ghoua
For the second consecutive year, the Moroccan international, Achraf Hakimi, is on the list of candidates for the African Ballon d’Or, a distinction that Moroccan Football misses and has not been obtained since 1998, when Mustapha Hadji was crowned.
With this appointment, the Lion of the Atlas aspires to preserve this prestigious trophy in Morocco and mark a new page in the history of national football, joining the greats of this continent.
Captain of the Atlas Lions and mainstay of Paris Saint-Germain, Achraf Hakimi embodies much more than a player with impressive statistics. The number 2 represents excellence, perseverance and ambition, becoming a source of inspiration for a new generation full of talent.
If Hakimi were to win, he would become the fifth Moroccan player to win this award, after Ahmed Faras in 1975, Mohamed Timoumi in 1985, Badou Ezaki the following year and Mustapha Hadji in 1998. He could also become the first PSG player to win it .
A constant evolution:
His career began at Real Madrid under Zinédine Zidane. However, Achraf Hakimi could not reveal his full potential there. Used sporadically, Hakimi demonstrated his talent with loserengues in some games played, assists and his professional goal against Sevilla FC. Loaned to Borussia Dortmund between 2018 and 2020, he established himself as one of the best full-backs of his generation. In 73 games, he scored 12 goals and gave 17 assists, in all competitions.
This prosperous period earned him the title of best young player at the 2018 CAF Awards, recognizing his exceptional potential.
At Inter Milan, he cemented his status as a rising star by winning the Scudetto in the 2020-21 season. With 45 games played in the Nerazzurri shirt, 7 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, Hakimi left an indelible mark during his time at the Italian club.
Nima Tavallaey, co-founder of the Italian Football Podcast, remembers the Moroccan’s time with enthusiasm: “When Inter signed Hakimi, everyone was very excited. We already knew that he was destined to become one of the best full-backs in the world. With Conte he not only showed his technical and physical qualities, but also incredible mental strength. Because Conte, in general, is someone very difficult to manage.
Nima adds: “I remember a moment when Conte fired him because he had not respected certain tactical instructions, especially defensive ones. But Hakimi was patient, worked hard and when he returned he scored. Conte himself said that Hakimi had to learn, and that’s exactly what he did. After that, Inter took off.”
For Nima Tavallaey, Hakimi remains an exceptional player who made history at Inter: “Frankly, after the Maicon era, he is by far the best attacking full-back we have had. It’s a shame he only played one season with us. Inter fans still love him and consider him the perfect modern full-back: fast, technical, ambidextrous, with excellent quality crosses and incredible dribbling ability. Hakimi returns it. In 2023, he happily traveled to Milan to see his Inter win the derby and qualify for the Champions League final.
A brilliant season with PSG
It is at PSG where Hakimi shows all his talent. With the capital club last season (2023-24), the 26-year-old right-back was a key player in Paris Saint-Germain’s success, winning Ligue 1, the French Cup and the Champions Trophy. With a total of 3,237 minutes played, or around forty games played, in all competitions, Hakimi scored 5 goals and provided 7 assists. These notable performances demonstrate his influence in both attack and defense.
“Under the orders of Luis Enrique, Hakimi benefits from total freedom on an offensive level, which was not necessarily the case before with Pochettino and Galtier,” analyzes Adrien Chantegrelet, Le Parisien journalist and PSG specialist.
“In the current system he is almost considered a striker. In the Champions League, sometimes he is even the most dangerous player offensively… The complicity with Ousmane Dembélé on the right lane further reinforces his influence on Parisian football,” he added.
This freedom allowed him to shine last season, being decisive on several occasions and winning three titles. His consistency and work also allowed him to be rewarded with a place in the season’s eleven in the French championship.
His current start to the season with the Parisians is also impressive. In 18 games, Achraf Hakimi has already scored 3 goals and provided 6 assists, in addition to wearing the captain’s armband during several games this mid-season. This responsibility demonstrates the trust placed in him by his coach Luis Enrique and his teammates.
A leader among the Atlas Lions
Since his first appearance in October 2016 in the Hervé Renard era, Achraf Hakimi has continued to demonstrate his love for the shirt and his attachment to the Moroccan national team. From the beginning he knew how to establish himself as a leader, a dedicated player, willing to give everything for his country. Even after the arrival of Vahid Halilhodžić, Hakimi maintained his starting role, proving that he was an essential element of Morocco’s system.
His status as a manager has not declined and, today, under the direction of Walid Regragui, he continues to shine like never before. Making 82 appearances for the national team, Hakimi scored 10 goals and provided 12 assists, an impressive record for a right-back who began his career at a fairly young age.
The Lions captain played a central role during the CAN 2025 qualifiers and the first matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. In 14 games, Hakimi scored 2 goals and gave 3 assists, in addition to wearing the captain’s armband in five occasions; proof of your leadership position in the team.
An example for future generations
Last summer, Hakimi reached a new dimension. Hakimi left his mark on the Moroccan Olympic team, actively contributing to winning the bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. In 6 games, he scored 2 goals and confirmed his status as a true pillar both on the field and in the locker room. . As a sign of his leadership, the first Moroccan goal in the tournament came with an assist from Hakimi. The last one scored from a free kick, closing the festival 6-0 against Egypt.
Beyond the numbers, Achraf Hakimi has become a model for young Moroccan players. His work ethic, resilience and commitment to the field perfectly illustrate the values he upholds. Whether under the colors of PSG or the national team, he continues to push his limits, seeking to write a new page in the history of Moroccan and African football.
At the dawn of the CAF Awards, which will take place in a few hours, Achraf Hakimi has big ambitions, which many consider legitimate. A consecration would not only allow him to follow in the footsteps of legends such as Faras, Timoumi and Hadji, but also reinforce Morocco’s position among the most influential nations in African football, awaiting another trophy. That of CAN-2025.
