Upon receiving the African Player of the Year award, Achraf Hakimi (27), defender for Paris Saint-Germain, delivered a heartfelt and deeply personal speech. The PSG star thanked everyone involved in his journey, from the Parisian club to the Moroccan national team.
Hakimi “I also thank everyone who has helped me along the way.”
“It’s truly an honor for me to be here. This trophy isn’t just for me, but for all the Moroccan children who also dream of one day becoming footballers.” I also thank everyone who has helped me along my journey.
I would also like to thank my president, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, for his confidence from day one. I thank all my PSG teammates, Luis Enrique, who have helped me become a better player and a better person.
I also thank the president of the Moroccan Football Federation. We will give everything to try and win the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.
I also thank my coach, Walid (Regragui). He knows I’m not an easy player to coach, and all my teammates on the national team, who have all helped me become who I am.
I also thank my family, my mother, and everyone who supports me, including all the coaches. It hasn’t been easy to get to this point.
Achraf Hakimi’s speech highlighted what truly shapes his sporting identity: his support network and his dual connection to Paris and Morocco. The Paris Saint-Germain right-back didn’t just acknowledge his president, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, or Luis Enrique. He recalled how much these figures have helped him grow as a person as well as a player.
On the Moroccan side, the inclusion of Walid Regragui in his acknowledgments demonstrates how fundamental their sometimes demanding relationship has been to his rise. Hakimi also slipped in a meaningful phrase: “to win the AFCON on home soil.” This ambition fuels the entire national team, and his words almost seem to lay the groundwork for a national mission.
His recent injury and the concerns surrounding his participation have been widely discussed, proof that he is no longer “just” a player, but a crucial member of his national team. Through his family, coaches, and teammates, Hakimi painted a picture of a player aware of his status but clear-eyed about the path he has traveled.
