“If you say that he is the best right-back, I tell you that I have never met a better right-back than him”. Here is what Luis Enrique recently said about Achraf Hakimi. Strong words, especially considering the experience of the Iberian coach, who spent time with FC Barcelona and the Spanish selection where he notably rubbed shoulders with the brilliant Dani Alves and Carvajal. It’s difficult, however, not to bow down to the start of the season made by the Moroccan international (82 caps, 10 goals) in the Parisian jersey. On the momentum of his 2023-2024 financial year and more generally since his arrival in the French capital, the native of Madrid has, in fact, been delivering major performances.
A change of status…
Essential pillar of the Rouge et Bleu (13 starts in 15 matches), promoted to vice-captain behind the unbeatable Marquinhos and full-fledged leader in the locker room, the 1m81 right-hander shines above all with his performance on the pitch, whatever the circumstances. or the context. In stormy evenings, the former Borussia Dortmund player sets himself up like the captain of a shaky ship. PSV Eindhoven can attest to this. In the most enchanted nights, the number 2 of the reigning French champions then makes his contribution. With rage, determination and grittiness. A stunning regularity resulting in formidable offensive efficiency (2 goals, 3 assists) combined with accentuated defensive rigor.
“He is discovering himself as a player and as a man. He is on this path. Despite his youth, he has a lot of experience, and he must be a reference on and off the field. For that, you don’t just need words, but you have to demonstrate it through actions and it’s in that aspect. I feel it better compared to last year”admitted, in this respect, Luis Enrique indicating, moreover, an enormous margin of progress and a great potential for the one who has just celebrated his 26 spring. Hailed by his peers, praised by his trainer, rarely criticized by observers, Hakimi finally gets everyone to agree. A visual impression largely confirmed in figures. In a fairly hybrid role – a direct consequence of the tactical prerogatives of his coach – the ex-Merengue brings, first of all, his defensive solidity.
Confusing statistics at every level
The situation is simple: all competitions combined, the Parisian piston totals, today, 77 balls recovered, 15 interceptions, 65 duels won out of 123 contested, or nearly 53% success (52.85), and 21 successful tackles on 28 attempts (75% success). Flattering statistics adding to his undeniable impact in the midfield when he brings the surplus. And what about the offensive sector… Just technically (847 successful passes out of 930 transmissions, i.e. a total of 91.08% of completed passes), impactful and omnipresent in the final meters, Hakimi continues to unbalance opposing defenses, finally taking on the role of X factor of the Ile-de-France collective. With a very good bond with Ousmane Dembélé, the captain of the Atlas Lions is also the second defender/piston among the European top 5 to have distilled the most last passes before a shot (27, just behind the 35 by Alex Grimaldo).
Constant involvement rewarded with three offerings since the resumption. But that’s not all. If Hakimi is currently the Ligue 1 player to have completed the most final passes in the game (26), he also shines with his offensive impact on European evenings. With 18 successful crosses in the game – as many as a certain Vinicius Jr and five less than Maximilian Mittelstädt, left back of VfB Stuttgart – the Moroccan is also the Parisian with the highest percentage of successful passes towards the final third in C1 (92%). Remarkable in all sectors with PSG, the one who has just extended his contract for three additional seasons, until 2029, can finally boast of more than successful performances under the colors of the selection led by Walid Regragui.
Hakimi 30 years after Weah?
Captain of the Rouge et Vert, Hakimi will have been one of the great architects of the perfect course achieved by his team during the qualifications for CAN 2025. A continental tournament which will take place, in Morocco, from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026 and that Luis Enrique’s protégé will perhaps debut as the brand new African Golden Ball, awarded on December 16 in Marrakech during the awards ceremony. CAF Awards 2024. Finalist alongside Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns), Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast/Brighton & Hove Albion), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund) and Ademola Lookman (Nigeria/Atalanta Bergamo) , Hakimi has, in fact, numerous arguments to win this prestigious individual award.
While waiting to know the identity of the lucky winner, the player trained at Real Madrid – who could become the second Parisian to win this trophy after George Weah in 1994 – stands out, in any case, as the one of the main references to his position. To the point of making him the best right side/piston in the world at the moment? “I don’t know if it’s the first, the second, the third or the thousandth (in the hierarchy at his position, editor’s note). It doesn’t interest me much but my idea completely matches its characteristics. It is true that he is gaining stature in the locker room, in terms of the human aspect. He is also very important in the national team. He is a positive leader with spectacular physical ability, I want to see these leaders in training and on the pitch.”preferred to note Luis Enrique.
Difficult, in fact, to assert such supremacy in view of the equally sparkling performances achieved by Jules Koundé with FC Barcelona (1 goal, 4 assists), Óscar Mingueza for Celta de Vigo (2 goals, 5 assists and recalled with La Roja), Jeremie Frimpong at Bayer Leverkusen (1 goal, 6 offerings) or even Trent Alexander-Arnold, essential link of the impressive collective of the Reds, leaders of the Premier League. One thing is certain, before hosting Toulouse, this Saturday as part of the 12th day of Ligue 1, and a few days before a very important trip to Bavaria to challenge Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, in head of the ranking, can today rely on a dazzling Achraf Hakimi and certainly not yet at the top of his art…
