Rabat — With the Ballon d’Or 2025 just around the corner, former Morocco national team coach Hervé Renard has publicly expressed his belief that Achraf Hakimi deserves the prestigious award after an outstanding season with Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking to a Moroccan sports outlet, Le 360 Sports, Renard, who led Morocco between 2016 and 2019, strongly advocated for the 26-year-old right-back, calling him “exceptional, consistent, and decisive.”
“He is one of the best players in the world today. For me, he is the Ballon d’Or of this season because he has been exceptional, consistent, and decisive in all his performances,” Renard said, praising Hakimi’s contributions on the pitch.
He also highlighted Hakimi’s remarkable career trajectory, moving through top clubs in Europe. “His evolution has been exceptional. From Dortmund to Inter Milan, then to Paris Saint-Germain, he has only joined great clubs, which fully reflects his talent,” Renard added.
Confident that Hakimi is far from reaching his peak, Renard concluded: “Today, Achraf Hakimi is the best player on the continent. And given his young age, he is far from done adding to his list of achievements.”
Renard reflected on his decision to call up Hakimi to the Moroccan national team when the player was just 18. “When you train at Real Madrid, it’s already a sign that you possess exceptional qualities,” he concluded.
While debates continue over who should succeed Rodri as the next Ballon d’Or winner — with names like FC Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal and PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé also in the conversation — Renard made it clear that he backs Achraf Hakimi.
The prestigious award, which will be presented on September 22, has rarely gone to a defender — and never to a full-back. At the start of the season, Hakimi’s name was far from any shortlist of likely winners.
Yet week after week, the 26-year-old has impressed with remarkable consistency, outshining even his more celebrated teammate Dembélé, who himself has enjoyed a prolific, goal-filled campaign.
Hakimi has embodied the qualities of the modern full-back: blistering pace, relentless runs up and down the flank, pinpoint passing and crossing, and sharp tactical awareness. His exceptional fitness — which he credits to both natural ability and meticulous preparation — has also been key.
