In a momentous evening for African football, Achraf Hakimi, the dynamic Morocco international and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defender, has been named the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Player of the Year.
The 27-year-old right-back—often deployed on the left or as a versatile full-back—edged out fierce competition from Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, securing the prestigious accolade in recognition of an extraordinary season that blended defensive solidity with prolific attacking contributions.
This victory marks a landmark achievement, as Hakimi becomes the first Moroccan to claim the award since Mustapha Hadji in 1998 and the first defender to do so in 52 years, harking back to Zaire’s Bwanga Tshimen in 1973.
The announcement came during the glittering CAF Awards ceremony on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, held at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Rabat, Morocco—the host nation’s third consecutive year staging the event. Kicking off at 7:00 PM local time (GMT+1), the gala was a star-studded affair attended by football luminaries, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
Hakimi, who arrived with his left ankle heavily strapped due to a recent ligament injury sustained earlier in November, hopped up the steps to accept the trophy from Motsepe and Infantino, refusing to put weight on his foot—a poignant symbol of his unyielding resilience.
The evening’s entertainment featured performances by Moroccan singer Douaa Lahyaoui, Congolese legend Awilo Longomba, and Ghanaian artist Fuse ODG, blending African musical flair with the continent’s football excellence.
Morocco dominated the night further, with women’s national team captain Ghizlane Chebbak winning the corresponding women’s award, and the U-20 Morocco side—fresh off their FIFA U-20 World Cup triumph—named National Team of the Year.
A Season of Unparalleled Impact: Trophies, Goals, and Records
Hakimi’s award is a testament to a campaign that redefined what a modern full-back can achieve, both at club and international level.
With PSG in the 2024/25 season, he was instrumental in delivering a historic quadruple: the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions (French Super Cup), and—most gloriously—the club’s first-ever UEFA Champions League crown.
In the UCL final on May 31, 2025, against his former club Inter Milan in Munich, PSG dismantled the Italians 5-0, with Hakimi scoring the opener in the 12th minute from a Désiré Doué assist—the first goal by a Moroccan in a European Cup final and the seventh by an African player.
He recorded more touches than any other player on the pitch that night, created two chances, and opted not to celebrate out of respect for his old team.
Across the UCL campaign, Hakimi’s five assists were the highest among African players and joint-third overall, while his goals placed him among the competition’s top African scorers, behind only Serhou Guirassy and Ademola Lookman.
Statistically, Hakimi’s output was staggering for a defender: 8 goals and 12 assists across all competitions for PSG in the 2024/25 season, rising to 9 goals and 11 assists when including Morocco duties from January to October 2025.
His blistering pace—peaking at 36.9 km/h in a Champions League match against Arsenal—was a highlight, as was his vice-captaincy under Marquinhos, underscoring his growing leadership.
These performances earned him spots in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season, Ligue 1 Team of the Season, and CAF Team of the Year.
He also clinched the 2025 Prix Marc-Vivien Foé as Ligue 1’s best African player, amassing 364 points—nearly 200 more than runner-up Evann Guessand—becoming only the second defender and fourth Moroccan to win it.
Globally, Hakimi finished sixth in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting and was hailed by Spanish outlet Marca as “undoubtedly the best right-back in the world,” featuring in their ideal XI alongside five PSG teammates.
On the international front, as Morocco’s captain since late 2024 (stepping in for the absent Hakim Ziyech), Hakimi captained the Atlas Lions to a world-record 16-match winning streak in 2025, including a 1-0 victory over Congo in Rabat that surpassed Spain’s previous mark of 15.
He contributed four assists in World Cup qualifying, helping secure Morocco’s spot at the 2026 tournament. Additionally, as one of three overage players at the 2024 Paris Olympics, he led Morocco to a bronze medal, scoring against the United States and Egypt while providing an assist against Iraq.
These feats not only propelled Morocco’s youth teams to further honors at the CAF Awards but also solidified Hakimi’s role as a national icon and role model for aspiring Moroccan talents.
Beating Salah and Osimhen in a Star-Studded Shortlist
The shortlist was a clash of African titans, with Hakimi’s comprehensive impact proving decisive over Salah’s Liverpool resurgence and Osimhen’s Galatasaray loan exploits.
Voted by a panel of CAF technical committee members, African media professionals, players, and coaches, Hakimi’s edge came from his trophy haul and dual-threat prowess—defending with poise while terrorizing flanks in attack. “It is really a proud moment for me to win this prestigious award,” Hakimi said post-ceremony, reflecting on a journey that began with his PSG signing in 2021. “When I joined Paris, my goal was to write my own page in its history… and now, with the Champions League, we’ve done it.” Despite his injury—a blow that could sideline him for the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil—Hakimi’s determination shone through, as he later added, “I try to be a good example… showing kids that hard work makes dreams come true.”
This win caps a remarkable arc for Hakimi, born in Madrid to Moroccan parents and nurtured through Real Madrid’s youth ranks before stints at Borussia Dortmund and Inter.
Now contracted to PSG until 2029, he eyes more silverware, including the FIFA Club World Cup final where PSG fell short.