Monday evening, Achraf Hakimi should have trampled on the red carpet of the Châtelet theater to attend the 2025 Golden Ball ceremony. But the Moroccan was selected on the side of Marseille where PSG faced OM after the postponement of the classic initially planned Sunday evening (defeat 1 to 0). He could not participate in the party in Paris, he who, for some, could be the surprise guest of the BO race, of which Ousmane Dembélé and Lamine Yamal were the big favorites. The Moroccan made a simply monstrous year with crazy statistics (11 goals, 16 assists in 55 matches in all competitions), titles and an exceptional level of play. His regularity and his ability to be decisive, especially in very important matches, were also highlighted. It was therefore not illogical that his name be cited among the potential candidates in the supreme title. The 26 -year -old footballer had raised his chances during an interview with Canal+.
Aware that his post as defender could be problematic since the attackers are more highlighted, he had defended his record. “I think it's my best season. The Ballon d'Or is a dream, but I never thought about 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. ” An outing that would have disturbed PSG, which was publicly pushing for Ousmane Dembélé. Which would not have been to the taste of certain Parisians, whose Hakimi with whom relations would have been cooled as a result of this episode according to The team.
A huge injustice for Morocco
Finally, the PSG strategy, which wanted to avoid a dispersion of the votes to pay. Dembélé was elected Ballon d'Or by a very large majority, ahead of Lamine Yamal. Vitinha is climbed on the third step of the podium. Hakimi had to be satisfied with a sixth place. He expected to finish above according to The team. He was preceded by Mohamed Salah and Raphinha. A classification that causes ink to flow in Morocco where we point the finger at France Football and the organization. In an article entitled “Hakimi ignored, the golden injustice of world football”,, Opinion wrote: “What was it more necessary for Hakimi to hope?” Decisive goals? He marked it. Decisive passes? He distributed it. Endurance and regularity? He made it his trademark. In a right side station too rarely valued, he redefined modern football standards, mixing defensive rigor, athletic power and offensive projection. His rude statistics argued for him, his performances leaned for him, his sporting and human aura completed the argument. And yet, the vote has chosen to ignore it. This choice questions. “
The Moroccan media, which recalled that no African player won since Georges Weah in 1995, added: “In the case Hakimi, some will have objected his origins, his birthplace in Spain, his post deemed” defensive “or even the extra -sport controversies mounted in recent months. But these arguments do not face a simple truth: on the ground, only talent must speak, and this talent, Hakimi embodies it brilliantly. Not attributing him the Ballon d'Or this year is refusing to recognize African and Arabic excellence in all its dimension. This is to persist in a narrow reading of world football where certain regions and certain profiles are systematically highlighted, while others remain relegated to the margins. Never mind: Morocco and Africa do not need a golden trophy to know what Hakimi is worth. His commitment, his loyalty, his humility and his class in the field have already earned him another distinction, more precious and more durable: that of the golden heart. And perhaps basically, this recognition is much more worth more than all the gilding and all the votes of a golden ball that is sometimes too selective in its criteria. ”
Hakimi was sacrificed by PSG
Al-Mountakhab also mounted in the niche. “Is it enough for us that Captain and Legend Achraf Hakimi finished sixth in the Golden Ball classification, becoming the first Moroccan player to reach this position, after the legendary goalkeeper Yassine Bounou finished 13th in the 2023 edition?” Of course, it is a feat that will remain engraved in the annals of the club, but this sixth place suggests that Achraf Hakimi suffered a great injustice. A greater injustice than it deserves. It was certainly not, and will not be, the first or the last player to be the victim of the double classification of players. Did the Ballon d'Or missed the opportunity to write history and get a justice that is lost in such individual awards (…) The victory of Achraf Hakimi in the Ballon d'Or would the world of football surprise? I do not think so, because those who named it, believing that it had all the necessary attributes and characteristics, based their appointment on digital and technical data, leaving no room for surprise. “
Then, the Moroccan publication added on its ranking: “No, it wasn’t one (surprise). What is more, it was a shock, because Hakimi deserved to be tied with his teammate Ousmane Dembélé, for whom Paris Saint-Germain committed the unthinkable, and the French press did everything to push him to win this award. He should have been preceded in the ranking by Barcelona Lamine Jamal, his teammate Vitinha, the Portuguese Mohamed Salah from Liverpool and the Brazilian Rafinha of FC Barcelona. I have no intention of questioning the principle of this classification, which is a compilation of the votes of 100 journalists from around the world, nor the credibility of the criteria applied by its management to preserve its objectivity. However, I am surprised that this price, whatever it does, remains unfair, to the point that the question becomes embarrassing: that Achraf Hakimi had to do more than its legendary season to become the first right side to win the Ballon d'Or? The structure of this price suggests that the criteria must be modified. Otherwise, it would be necessary to reserve it for attackers, leaving all the players of the other lines contribute for other awards. ”
The African Golden Ball could also escape him
Al-Mountakhab Concluded by saying that this price will leave many scars in the memory of the captain of the Atlas Lions and that he had to feel a feeling of injustice, just like his relatives, in particular in relation to the fact that PSG publicly sacrifices it to highlight Dembouz. 360 Morocco also mentioned the subject. “If Rodri raised the trophy last year, 6th place of Achraf Hakimi in this 69th Ballon d'Or on September 22 does not pass for a large part of the supporters and observers. The captain of the Atlas Lions author of a complete 2024-2025 season was among the favorites before the spotlights pointed towards Ousmane Dembélé, 6th French player to be sacred, and Lamine Yamal, 2nd. Ousmane Dembélé is the Ballon d'Or 2025. But Achraf Hakimi signed an exceptional season, in Morocco, and in France. Present on all fronts, exemplary on the ground, he would undoubtedly have deserved this trophy. But the awards do not make the players. ”
The local publication then shared reactions from Moroccan supporters, who saw Hakimi much higher in the final classification. “Hakimi should have been top 3!” The top 5 must have been 100 % Parisian given the season »dropped one of them. Another said: “Hakimi is only 6th?” I really thought he had a chance to win it. He was fantastic last season. ” Finally, some are already worried about the African Ballon d'Or. Indeed, Achraf Hakimi, who is announced as the favorite, could be preceded by Mohamed Salah (4th), who has already finished in front of him in the classification of the Ballon d'Or France Football. “Logically speaking, will Salah be the winner of the Ballon d'Or from Africa?”wonders a supporter. A setback in Africa would be a new blow for the Moroccan international, who did not fail to congratulate Ousmane Dembélé after his coronation; And his country, who all hoped better on Monday evening.
