Hakimi on Rahimi's Tears: "We Almost Cried With Him Because He's One of Us"

Morocco captain says the team almost cried with Rahimi after years of hard work and sacrifice led to his dream moment

Rabat – Achraf Hakimi has shared the emotional story behind Soufiane Rahimi’s tears after scoring his first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Haiti.

Speaking during a live interview on ABtalks, Hakimi said the entire Morocco team was deeply moved when Rahimi scored and burst into tears. He said the players almost cried with him because they knew how much he had suffered and sacrificed to reach that moment.

“For Rahimi, his story is very emotional if you know where he started and what he went through,” Hakimi said. “He worked very hard and made many sacrifices to become the player he is today.”

Hakimi explained that Rahimi’s goal meant much more than just scoring in a World Cup match. It was the reward for years of dedication, hard work, and difficult moments.

“When he scored his first World Cup goal and started crying, we were all touched,” Hakimi said. “We almost cried with him because he is one of us. We lived this journey with him and know everything he went through to reach this moment.”

Hakimi added that Rahimi fully deserved the special moment and said he was very happy for his teammate after the match.

Rahimi scored Morocco’s third goal in the 4-2 win over Haiti in the final group-stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His emotional celebration quickly became one of the tournament’s most memorable moments for the Atlas Lions.