A French newspaper described Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi, the right-back for Paris Saint-Germain, as an “exceptional athlete.” The paper highlighted that the captain of the Atlas Lions is distinguished by his speed, endurance, and impressive physical strength, showcasing remarkable abilities.
The newspaper added that Hakimi, who has played 57 matches this season in his fourth year with the Parisian club, maintains a high level of fitness. It emphasized that the 26-year-old player has again demonstrated his crucial impact in the final third, with incredible speed on the right flank, despite some defensive shortcomings still in need of improvement.
The source noted that Hakimi is close to finishing his best season with the team, recording 7 goals and 14 assists, which is the best tally of his career. However, what’s even more impressive is his physical strength, which he has maintained throughout a long and taxing season.
Le Parisien remarked that Hakimi has relied on his exceptional physical attributes since the beginning of his professional career, which were even more evident this season, as the second player in Paris has consistently performed at a high pace until the late stages of the season.
The newspaper mentioned that Hakimi’s demanding journey this year began on July 16, 2024, during his preparations for the Paris Olympic Games with the Moroccan Olympic team, which won a bronze medal, and could extend until July 13 if his team reaches the final of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Despite this intense schedule, the former Inter Milan player continues to deliver the same performance with determination. The paper noted that Hakimi has shown a clear advantage in school sprint races since he was young, later transitioning to athletics, which helped him develop his acceleration and endurance—both essential elements of his playing style.
It clarified that Hakimi was the second most relied-upon player by coach Luis Enrique this season (46 matches, 3,895 minutes), behind Ecuadorian William Pacho, highlighting that the best African player in Ligue 1 is distinguished by his capacity for numerous bursts (more than 20 times per match) and maintaining high-speed runs over long distances, repeating them at different times.
The newspaper continued that Hakimi was the fastest player in the UEFA Champions League this season, hitting a top speed of 36.9 kilometers per hour, the same figure recorded by Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, and ranked fourth in terms of distance covered in the European tournament, with 177.3 kilometers over 16 matches.
Le Parisien pointed out that Hakimi still tends to make repeated attacking runs that may confuse his defensive teammates, yet his natural inclination towards attack reflects his great ambition to score goals.
The French newspaper concluded by stating that “this brilliance gives him the opportunity to affirm his standing in the awaited match on May 31 against Inter Milan’s right-back Denzel Dumfries, one of the top players in the world in this position.”
