7 July 2025
Achraf Hakimi, the right-back for Paris Saint-Germain and captain of the Moroccan national team, was one of the best players in the world in the 2024-2025 season, with his immense talent and momentous performances both defensively and offensively. The 26-year-old's name has become increasingly associated with the Ballon d'Or, the award given annually by France Football magazine to the world's best football player, especially with the magazine's new amendments to the award.
Last May, France Football announced significant changes to the criteria for selecting the winner of the 2025 award, which include:
1. Individual performance during the season
2. Team achievements and trophies won
3. Sportsmanship and competitive spirit
The entire career criterion has been removed, making the evaluation more focused on performance during the season alone, which "logically" increases Hakimi's chances of winning the award, or at least competing for it.
Exceptional Performance in the 2024-25 Season
Hakimi has performed at a very high level in the 2024-25 season, both with his club and his national team.
Hakimi's significant contributions were evident in all competitions, particularly in the Champions League and the Club World Cup, where he demonstrated that he is not just a right-back, but a player capable of making a difference offensively, possessing a remarkable goal-scoring instinct, outstanding speed, skillful passing and crossing, and exceptional physical fitness.
Hakimi's Statistics (2024-25 Season)
Hakimi has reached 26 goal contributions (goals + assists) across all competitions this season, an exceptional number for a defender, placing him among the best players in Ligue 1 and Europe.
Hakimi's most recent contribution was the assist he provided to teammate Ousmane Dembélé, who scored the winning goal to seal the 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States. The French website "PSGINT" confirmed that Hakimi broke the record for the most goal contributions by a defender in a single season, noting that he surpassed the previous record held by Brazilian Dani Alves while playing for Barcelona in the 2010-2011 season (25 contributions: 4 goals + 21 assists).
Collective Achievements: Paris Saint-Germain's Historic Treble
Hakimi helped his team, Paris Saint-Germain, achieve a historic treble in the 2024-25 season, including the French League (Ligue 1), the French Cup, and the Champions League.
The Moroccan star played a pivotal role in all competitions, especially in the Champions League, where he delivered unforgettable performances. Hakimi may win another major title with his team at the Club World Cup currently being held in the United States, where Paris Saint-Germain has reached the semi-finals.
Can a defender win the award?
The reality is that very few defenders have won the Ballon d'Or. The last defender to do so was Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 after leading Italy to the World Cup title.
Competition: Dembélé Within the Team
Hakimi's teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, Ousmane Dembélé, may be his biggest rival for the Ballon d'Or within the team. The Frenchman had an exceptional scoring season and topped the team's scoring charts, but the split in votes between players from the same team could weaken either player's chances of winning.
Does Hakimi Deserve the Ballon d'Or?
Hakimi deserves to be among at least the top three candidates, but challenges remain due to competition from his teammate (Dembélé) and the historical bias against defenders.
Hakimi's winning of the award would be a historic event that reflects the evolution of modern football and redefines the criteria for evaluation in the game, making him the first Arab player and the second African to win the award after Liberian George Weah (1995).
