PSG’s Unstoppable Force: Hakimi’s Record-Breaking Season Propels Champions League Glory

The PSG right-back is an indefatigable player. Hakimi has shown the same freshness and determination since the start of the season. With his speed and exceptional performances, the Moroccan defender has established himself as a key player in the Parisian squad. On Monday, Hakimi delivered a remarkable performance and scored the second goal against Seattle (2-0), his third full match played in the Club World Cup, and his 65th since the start of the season on July 1, 2024. "I feel good, I recover well, I work a lot with the physical trainer, the physiotherapist and the nutritionist to eat well, sleep well. They gave me the chance to recover quickly so that I can continue to bring my qualities to the team," explains the Atlas Lion to Parisien.

The 26-year-old player is a key piece in Luis Enrique’s system. Fast and efficient on his flank, he is undoubtedly the best in the world in his position. His statistics bear witness to this. The Moroccan international has scored 10 goals and provided 14 assists in 51 matches across all competitions. Hakimi has improved his game, emerging as a versatile player, as effective in defense as in midfield and attack. "He was already very offensive when he played under my orders at Dortmund. But what he’s doing in Paris is magnificent... It’s hard to stop him and I also see that he has become a real locker room leader," says Lucien Favre, his former coach between 2018 and 2020.

The PSG number 2 has contributed to the club’s Champions League triumph. The former Real Madrid and Inter Milan player scored against Aston Villa in the quarter-finals and against Arsenal in the semi-finals. He also opened the scoring in the prestigious competition’s final against Inter Milan (5-0). With his exceptional performances this season, Hakimi has every chance of winning the Ballon d’Or, even though the competition is fierce against players like his teammate Ousmane Dembélé and Barcelona’s prodigy, Lamine Yamal. "I think I’m having a wonderful season. And if people think I’m a candidate for the Ballon d’Or, then I’m very pleased. I will continue to give everything for PSG, for the Moroccan national team, because for me, the most important thing is the collective," he said.

The Atlas Lion is on the rise. From a defender, he is increasingly revealing himself as a formidable attacker. "From now on, he will always be categorized as an attacking player. When he has to get into the field, he no longer gets caught off guard in his back, he does everything much better than before. He knows how to be in the 16m by occupying the right zone," says Lucien Favre. "It’s a completely normal evolution, I knew he would become that kind of player," confirms Vahid Halilhodzic, former coach of Morocco. Hakimi and his teammates will face Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami this Sunday, as part of the Club World Cup taking place in the United States.