Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi: Rising Star Shines for National Team

Appointed as a starter three times during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Achraf Hakimi was one of the three youngest players in this world competition. As such, he did not go there to just make up the numbers, reports le Point Afrique. The young Lion, who first cut his teeth with the Lion Cubs, has established himself through his outstanding professional talents. As a starter, he scored a goal in his first World Cup 2018 qualifying match against Mali (6-0). At the CAN as well, the young prodigy showed his excellent qualities and did not miss a single minute of the competition, cut short by elimination in the round of 16, the same source indicates.

The versatile Moroccan full-back, born on November 4, 1998 - 46 days before Kylian Mbappé - has 154 professional matches (15 goals) under his belt. Born in Madrid, Hakimi, born to Moroccan parents, joined Real Madrid’s youth academy at the age of 8. The same source points out that the Moroccan framework did not follow the traditional path of dual nationals, which consists of playing for youth teams in Europe before joining Africa a little later. Hakimi was a Lion Cub of the Atlas before committing definitively to Morocco, accepting Hervé Renard’s call before his majority, the same media specifies.

If Achraf Hakimi has often been called up to the national team to support his sporting nation, it is thanks to his extraordinary performances in Europe, where he is increasingly talked about. At the departure of his idol, the coach of the Casa Blanca, the Moroccan framework was concerned about his playing time and chose the option of a loan to Germany, with Borussia Dortmund, where he confirmed all the hopes placed in him.

For now, the full-back continues to make all of Morocco proud by delivering great performances, including a hat-trick of assists - a rare feat - in the Champions League, against Atlético de Madrid. According to the French media, the best young African player 2018/2019 has achieved this season hallucinatory statistics for a defender: 31 matches, 7 goals, 6 assists! Clocked at over 36 kilometers per hour during a sprint in the Bundesliga, he has become the fastest player in the history of the German championship. Pending confirmation of his announced return to Real Madrid, Achraf Hakimi is being followed by major European clubs who also want to recruit him.