Achraf Hakimi

Achraf Hakimi, born on November 4, 1998, is a distinguished professional footballer who currently plays as a right-back for Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. He also serves as the captain of the Morocco national team, where he is celebrated as one of the finest right-backs in the world.

Hakimi's career began with Real Madrid Castilla in 2016, and he quickly ascended to the first team in 2017. His journey took a significant turn when he was loaned to Borussia Dortmund for two years, where he contributed to the team's success by winning the DFL-Supercup in 2019. Following his impressive performances, he transferred to Inter Milan for a reported fee of forty-two million euros, playing a pivotal role in securing the Serie A title for the club in the 2020–21 season, their first in eleven years.

In 2021, Hakimi made headlines again when he signed with Paris Saint-Germain for a reported fee of sixty-eight million euros. Since joining PSG, he has celebrated four Ligue 1 titles and was instrumental in the club's historic first UEFA Champions League title in 2025, scoring the opening goal against his former team, Inter Milan, in a resounding five-nil victory.

On the international stage, Hakimi has represented Morocco at various levels, making his senior debut in 2016 at the age of seventeen. He has participated in two FIFA World Cups (2018 and 2022) and four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025). Notably, he led Morocco to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, marking a historic achievement as the first African nation to reach that stage.

In recognition of his outstanding performances, Hakimi ranked sixth in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, the highest position ever attained by a Moroccan player. He was also honored as the 2025 African Player of the Year, becoming the fifth Moroccan to receive this accolade and the first since Mustapha Hadji in 1998.