Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi met the press ahead of his side’s Champions League showdown with Barcelona, and the Moroccan star handled questions about his Ballon d’Or finish with the same calmness he shows on the pitch.
Despite ending up sixth in the final rankings and having publicly declared earlier in the year that defenders deserve more recognition, Hakimi was all smiles, as quoted by sports expert Fabrizio Romano via his official X account, choosing gratitude over frustration. The PSG right-back made it clear that personal awards come second for him.
Fabrizio posted:
I’m not disappointed by not winning it, at all. It’s already very good to be in the top 10. I don’t think about the individual trophy but about the collective trophies
Hakimi’s numbers last season were impressive. In 2024–25, Hakimi produced 27 goal contributions, 11 goals and 16 assists more than any defender in European history, breaking Dani Alves’ long-standing record. He was key in PSG’s historic quadruple, winning Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions, and most memorably, the UEFA Champions League.
He also made history by becoming the first defender ever to score in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final of the competition. Yet when the final rankings dropped on September 22, the Moroccan star found himself behind Ousmane Dembélé (1,380 points), Lamine Yamal (1,059), Vitinha (703), Mohamed Salah (657), and Raphinha (620). Hakimi earned 484 points still impressive, though some fans and pundits argued Salah finishing ahead was undeserved.
For Hakimi, though, the debate is over. His focus is firmly on Barcelona, and on helping PSG defend their crown. The Moroccan smiled again before wrapping up his presser.
