This Wednesday, November 4—the day after a 6-0 victory over Villarreal in the fourth round of the Champions League league phase, a result well worth celebrating—Paris Saint-Germain has another occasion to mark: the birthday of right-back Achraf Hakimi, who turns 28 today.
Since arriving from Inter Milan in 2021, Hakimi quickly demonstrated his potential, though for a time he lacked a certain level of consistency, concentration, and efficiency. The arrival of coach Luis Enrique in 2023 proved to be a turning point, with the manager carving out a specific role for him within a highly attacking side. The departure of Kylian Mbappé in 2024—not that this was Mbappé’s fault—also played a part; previously, the Moroccan international had a tendency to look for Mbappé too often. Since then, he has become more integrated into the collective play and far less predictable.
It also appears that Luis Enrique has managed to raise the standards expected of Hakimi, while simultaneously granting him greater freedom in the attack. Now more disciplined defensively, capable of tireless effort, and consistently decisive, the Moroccan has established himself as a top-tier player. We wish him a very happy birthday and hope he continues on this impressive path.
