Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi has emerged as a strong contender for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, with his standout performances placing him at the center of global football’s most prestigious individual award conversation.
The Paris Saint-Germain right back garnered attention after making bold remarks during an interview with French broadcaster CANAL+, stating that he believes he deserves the Ballon d’Or following a historic season.
“When people talk about me in the Ballon d’Or conversation, I feel like I’m dreaming,” Hakimi said. “If I get the chance to win it, I think I deserve it. After the season I had, scoring in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final, that’s rare, especially for a defender.”
Hakimi emphasized the difficulty of achieving such feats from his position in a traditional back four. “People think I’m a midfielder or forward, but I’m a defender. These aren’t normal stats for someone in my role,” he said.
According to Spanish sports daily AS, the 25-year-old recorded 27 goal contributions this season, 11 goals and 16 assists, making him one of the most complete players in the game. His decisive role in PSG’s UEFA Champions League campaign, particularly in the knockout rounds, set him apart as one of the competition’s standout performers.
Despite his stellar season, Hakimi’s comments have reportedly stirred discomfort within PSG’s ranks. The club has launched a media campaign backing French winger Ousmane Dembélé as its official Ballon d’Or candidate, and Hakimi’s solo assertion of merit was not well received internally.
French outlet L’Équipe reported that PSG attempted to persuade CANAL+ to remove the clip of Hakimi’s remarks. The broadcaster declined.
Online reaction to Hakimi’s comments has been divided. Some fans and commentators speculated the remarks could disrupt locker-room harmony, especially given the club’s public endorsement of Dembélé. Others see Hakimi’s rising popularity as a natural outcome of his on-field excellence.
Polls conducted by L’Équipe show Hakimi leading fan votes as the best player in the world, surpassing Dembélé and Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. The Moroccan star enjoys strong backing from PSG supporters and the Moroccan diaspora in France.
The potential split in voting among PSG stars has raised concerns that it could benefit an outside contender like Yamal when the official Ballon d’Or ballots are cast on Sept. 22.
Africa, meanwhile, appears to be rallying behind Hakimi, reminiscent of its past support for Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah. Should Hakimi win, he would become only the second African player in history to claim the Ballon d’Or, following Liberian legend George Weah in 1995.
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