Achraf Hakimi

Hakimi's 2025/26 season with PSG delivered a fourth Ligue 1 title and a second Champions League triumph in three seasons — his return from injury to start the final was a key part of PSG retaining the European crown.

As Morocco's captain, he led the Atlas Lions to the World Cup quarterfinals, beating Canada 3-0 in the round of 16, before France ended the run for the second consecutive World Cup, winning 2-0 with goals from Mbappe and Dembele — the identical scoreline to their 2022 semifinal meeting.

Hakimi remains one of the fastest full-backs in the world game, a right-back who functions as an auxiliary winger in possession, overlapping and cutting inside to shoot or combine rather than staying purely defensive.

For Morocco he is used as the focal point of quick transitions, often the outlet who turns a defensive stop into an attack in a single pass.

Hakimi was named CAF African Player of the Year for 2025 and helped Morocco win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, arriving at the World Cup as the continent's form full-back and Morocco's on-field leader.

After the quarterfinal exit, Hakimi posted a message calling for resilience rather than dwelling on the defeat, noting Morocco again finished as Africa's best-placed side at the tournament.