After a monumental 2024-2025 season, Achraf Hakimi is no longer only perceived as one of the best lateral in the world, but as a serious contender for the Ballon d'Or. Author of an exceptional campaign with Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco, he not only multiplied the high-level defensive services, but also signed statistics worthy of an attacker, marking in the most decisive moments: quarter-finals, semi-final and final. This ability to shine in major meetings, while playing its defensive role, has changed the perception of the post of modern side and opened a rarely alive debate around a defender. Carried by the recognition of the public and the observers, Hakimi now tackles this race to the Ballon d'Or with lucidity, as he entrusted in his interview to Canal+.
“”With the season we have done, we all improved the statistics, we had a big season. But if I see all my seasons since I started football, I think it's my best season. The Ballon d'Or is a dream, but I never thought of that before, but now that there is the possibility, people put me on the debate of the Ballon d'Or, there is a moment when you think a lot about that. My first dream was to be professional football, but the Ballon d'Or is a dream that I have never imagined, but I think I deserve it too. I had a historic season. There are not many players who scored in the quarter-finals, in the semi-finals and in the final. As a defender, it's more difficult. People think I'm attacker or midfielder, but no, I play on a line of four and I must think about defending. The statistics I have made this year are not those of a normal defender. When a defender does that, I think he deserves more than an attacker».
