The star is attracting international attention for his astonishing performances in the Bundesliga, or German football league.
Rabat – Moroccan sports newspaper the National Team “Al -Mountakhab” has named Morocco’s international football player Achraf Hakimi as the 2019 Golden Lion of the year.
Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) reported that the specialized sports newspaper took into account the impressive performances of Hakimi who shone as a player this season.
The newspaper placed Hakimi at the top of the list after a vote with the participation of 24 national coaches and members of the media.
Read Also: Achraf Hakimi Wins Young Arab Player of the Year Award
Hakimi received a score of 312 points.
Hakimi is followed by Ajax Amsterdam superstar Hakim Ziyech, who won the 2018 award with a total of 294 points.
Moroccan top scorer Abderrazzak Hamdallah finished third with 66 points.
The newspaper “The National Team” launched the “Golden Lion” award in 2004 to pay tribute to the best players on the African continent. Since 2018, the newspaper decided to honor Moroccan players with the award.
The three players named in the newspaper had international success in 2019 with their respective football clubs. Hamdallah had a successful season with Saudi Al Nasr club, scoring 57 goals. He became the top scorer in the world, outperforming Lionel Messi who scored 54 goals this season. Hamdallah won the Best Arab Player of 2019 on December 29.
Hakimi, the Golden Lion, also won the Young Arab Player awarded by Globe Soccer.
Moroccan international football players Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech have made it to France Football magazine’s best African eleven.
The magazine selected the two players, among another nine football stars from the continent, to create the 2019 fantasy football team for Africa.
On December 29, the French sports magazine also shortlisted Ziyech and Hakimi among the nominees for the 2019 Best Maghreb Player of the year.
Moroccan football player Yunis Abdelhamid also features on the list.