Achraf Hakimi has been included among the candidates for the Best Player in the World award after an exceptional season.
The international Moroccan defender made the extended list of 25 nominees revealed today, which is now open for online voting. The list features some of the most prominent stars in global football, including Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Mohamed Salah, and Lamine Yamal, along with several players from Paris Saint-Germain who dominate the nominations.
Hakimi’s nomination comes in recognition of his outstanding performance this season with Paris Saint-Germain, where he played a crucial role in the team’s triumph in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup, in addition to domestic titles.
The award relies on two phases of voting; the first is open to the public to select the final shortlist, while the second combines fan votes with decisions from a judging panel comprising notable figures in the football world.
Hakimi faces strong competition from Egyptian Mohamed Salah and Nigerian Victor Osimhen in a race likely to be decided by last season’s performances, which saw the Moroccan full-back win the Champions League and various domestic titles, alongside his impactful contributions to the Moroccan national team.
It’s worth noting that Achraf Hakimi is also competing for the African Player of the Year award during the CAF Awards ceremony, which is being held at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Rabat this evening.
