Rabat – Morocco international Achraf Bencharki has named Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi as the greatest player in the history of Moroccan football.
Bencharki chose an appearance with Egyptian content creator Ahmed Gharib, who presented him with a series of prominent Moroccan players from different generations and asked him to stop when he heard the name of the player he considered the country’s best.
The list included former Atlas Lions figures such as Abdeljalil Hadda, Noureddine Naybet, Mustapha Hadji, Salaheddine Bassir, Mbark Boussoufa and Hakim Ziyech.
When Hakimi’s name was mentioned, Bencharki stopped the sequence and selected the PSG full-back as his choice.
“Achraf Hakimi,” Bencharki replied when asked to identify Morocco’s greatest-ever footballer.
The selection represents Bencharki’s personal assessment rather than an official ranking, placing the current Morocco captain ahead of several players who left major marks on the national team across different eras.
Hakimi among 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees
Bencharki’s comments come during another high-profile year for Hakimi, who is among the 30 players nominated for the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or.
The Moroccan defender appears on the shortlist alongside names including Ousmane Dembélé, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane and several of his Paris Saint-Germain teammates.
Hakimi has become one of Morocco’s most recognizable players internationally after spells with Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and PSG.
He has also played a central role in Morocco’s recent international success, including the Atlas Lions’ historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Bencharki’s choice adds to the debate over Morocco’s greatest footballer, a discussion that spans several generations and includes figures such as Hadji, Naybet, Ziyech and Bassir.
