Paris Unleashes a Bold Push for Hakimi to Win Africa's Ballon d'Or

Paris Launches Bold Campaign to Push Hakimi for Africa's Ballon d'Or

Paris Saint-Germain is rallying behind their Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi, the trusted right-back, as he enters a fierce race for a prestigious prize.

French outlet GFFN reports that PSG is launching a hard-hitting promotional drive to secure Hakimi's win of Africa's Ballon d'Or for 2025.

Hakimi, 26, enjoyed a standout season, helping PSG clinch a domestic treble (the league, the French Cup, and the French Super Cup) and collect European honours, including both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup, a historic haul for the club, capped by a World Club Cup silver medal hosted by the United States.

The Moroccan international defender/midfield contributor registered 55 appearances for PSG in all competitions last season, scoring 11 goals and providing 16 assists.

GFFN notes that if Hakimi wins the award he would become the second PSG player to claim the Ballon d'Or after a teammate, Dembele, who is cited as having already won the prize in the eyes of the report.

Beyond Hakimi, CAF named a 10-player shortlist for Africa’s best player this year, featuring Mohamed Salah of Liverpool, Zambo Anguissa (Napoli), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray), Denis Bouanga (L.A. FC), Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund), Eliman Ndiaye (Everton), Osman Barcola, and other noted names along with several contenders from across the continent.

Meanwhile, Hakimi will miss PSG's Ligue 1 trip to Lorient tonight, as coach Luis Enrique trims the squad for the visit in the tenth round of the league.

PSG’s injury list includes veteran midfielder Fabian Ruiz and winger Kang-In Lee, with young João Neves back from injury as a positive note for the squad. Enrique’s 20-man selection features a blend of veterans and rising stars, including: Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier, Renato Marin, Matvei Saponov. Defenders: Lucas Peraldao, Marquinhos, Elia Zabarny, Lucas Hernandez, Nuno Mendes, Willian Batshu.

Midfielders: Vitinha, Warren Zaïre-Emery, João Neves, Sini Mvulo, Kinten Ngantou. Forwards: Khvicha Kvartsakhhelia, Doy Ibrahim Mbaye, Gonçalo Ramos, Gonzalo Ramos, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele.

PSG’s results for the 2025-2026 season so far show six wins and a single slip against Marseille in the classic clash that coincided with the Ballon d’Or ceremony, with two draws in between. They beat Nantes and Angers 1-0, ran over Toulouse 6-3, beat Lens 2-0, and downed Brest 2-0.

Before the international break in October, PSG drew away to Lille 1-1 and then 3-3 at home to Strasbourg, briefly losing their lead before reclaiming top spot with a late win over Brest as they push to seal a fifth consecutive domestic title.

On the continental stage, PSG have played four European matches with a perfect record, starting with the UEFA Super Cup win on penalties against Tottenham Hotspur after a 2-2 draw, then opening the Champions League group phase with a 4-0 thrashing of Atalanta, a 2-1 win over Barcelona in Montjuïc, and a 7-2 rout of Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.

GFFN closes by underscoring PSG’s strong belief Hakimi deserves the Africa Ballon d’Or and will receive heavy promotional backing in the near term.

The African Football Confederation (CAF) shortlist for the continent’s best player includes Salah, Anguissa, Osimhen, Bouanga, Guirassy, Ndiaye, Mbaye, Maïli, Guirassy, and others, reflecting a deep pool of talent across Africa and its diaspora.

Bottom line: Hakimi’s campaign is heating up, and PSG is pulling out all the stops to see if Africa’s biggest prize can finally land in Paris.

Punchline time: If Hakimi wins, the trophy might need a passport, because it’s about to move from Africa to Europe faster than a right-back sprint. And if not, PSG will still need to explain to the trophy why it stayed up so late watching reruns of Hakimi’s highlights with a cup of mint tea. Sniper’s verdict: even a clean sheet can’t dodge the spotlight when the Ballon d’Or is in your crosshairs.