Hakimi Reborn: From Full-Back to Final Hero
Achraf Hakimi has enjoyed the season of his life at Paris Saint-Germain, playing a key role in the club's first-ever Champions League title under Luis Enrique.
The Moroccan full-back had looked uncertain when the Spanish manager took over in 2023. His form was patchy, and there were doubts about his fit in a four-man backline. But Enrique had other ideas.
Rather than limit him to defensive duties, the former Spain boss gave Hakimi license to roam. He was used as a winger, a wide midfielder, and was even tucked inside at times.
Hakimi ended the 2024–25 campaign with 23 goal contributions, nine goals and 14 assists. No other defender in Europe could match that.
In the Champions League, he was crucial. He found the net in the quarter-final against Aston Villa, scored again in the semi-final against Arsenal, and broke the deadlock in the final against Inter Milan. The opener was a slick team move, finished with a precise tape-in.
'Luis Enrique has helped me reach a level I've never experienced,' Hakimi said before the semi-final. His teammates clearly agreed, naming him vice-captain behind Marquinhos at the start of the season.
PSG moved quickly to tie him down, offering a new deal until 2029, one that puts him among the club's top earners.
Against his former club Inter, Hakimi showed maturity. He didn't celebrate his goal, but gave Federico Dimarco a torrid time until the Inter defender was hauled off.
With his pace, sharp decision-making and superb reading of space, Hakimi has become much more than a full-back. He's a leader, a threat, and a key cog in a PSG side that finally conquered Europe. Tags: Achraf Hakimichampions leagueInter MilanPSG
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