Achraf Hakimi enjoying a huge season with individual awards in sight

Scorer in PSG's 2-1 win over Arsenal in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg, Achraf Hakimi helped send the Parisians into the final, five years after their first one, lost to Bayern Munich in Lisbon. And he is well placed to pick up several individual awards on the continent.

The most decisive defender in the world

Although he has improved enormously defensively this season, Achraf Hakimi has not given up on his greatest strength, his attacking contribution. Whether at right-back or wing-back, the Atlas Lion shows the same football intelligence, making the right movements to give his opponents options. And when he needs to drift inside, the Moroccan does not hesitate, as he did for PSG's 2-0 goal in the 72nd minute, a crisp strike after a fine one-two with Ousmane Dembélé. It was his 3rd goal of this season in the Champions League.

He also has 5 assists to his name, making him the most decisive defender in the competition over the past 20 years. Hakimi has also become the third Moroccan player to score in a semi-final of the Champions League, after Medhi Benatia (against Barcelona in 2015) and Hakim Ziyech (against Tottenham in 2019).

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But the more impressive stat is the one from his season as a whole. Achraf Hakimi now has 7 goals and 14 assists in 45 games in all competitions. Those numbers make him the most decisive defender in the world, with 21 goal contributions this season.

Two games away from a quadruple and the 2025 African Ballon d'Or?

A few months ago, almost everyone agreed that Mohamed Salah would be African Player of the Year (African Ballon d'Or) for 2025. But since Liverpool's exit in the Champions League round of 16, the Pharaoh has seen his stock fall among fans and observers. By contrast, Achraf Hakimi's is soaring, with his performances ever more dazzling.

Read also: The three finalists for the 2025 Marc-Vivien Foé Prize

Already a Ligue 1 and Trophée des Champions winner, Achraf Hakimi has two more finals to play, notably the Coupe de France final (against Reims) on 24 May and the Champions League final (against Inter Milan) on 31 May. If PSG win both trophies, the Moroccan will undoubtedly be the overwhelming favourite for the 2025 African Ballon d'Or. With the Africa Cup of Nations at the end of the year taking place in his country and the Atlas Lions set to be backed by their home fans, Hakimi is well placed to succeed Ademola Lookman, the most recent winner. But in the meantime, he should in all likelihood win the 2025 Marc-Vivien Foé Prize, awarded each season to the best African player in Ligue 1. The winner will be announced on 12 May.