Achraf Hakimi profile: latest news on PSG's injury return and Ballon d'Or bid
Achraf Hakimi is back for PSG after a thigh injury, hit the post in the 4-2 win at Manchester City and is a Ballon d'Or 2026 nominee as the double Champions League winner and Morocco captain.
Achraf Hakimi is back in action for Paris Saint-Germain after a thigh problem interrupted his autumn, and the Morocco captain heads into the final stretch of October 2026 as a double Champions League winner and one of the PSG players on the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist. This Achraf Hakimi profile and latest news update looks at his stop-start beginning to 2026-27, the role that has made him one of the most influential full-backs in Europe, and a career that has taken him from Real Madrid's academy to two European Cups in Paris.
Achraf Hakimi latest news: injury, return and a big night in Manchester
Hakimi's season began later than most. According to Moroccan outlet Le360, he rejoined PSG in August 2026 having skipped the club's pre-season tour after a demanding year, ahead of a Ligue 1 opener against Rennes on 23 August. ESPN listed him in the starting line-up for the 2-1 home defeat to Monaco on 4 September.
Nine days later, during PSG's 1-0 win at Brest on 13 September, he was forced off in the 39th minute. The club confirmed a minor injury to his right thigh, as reported by beIN Sports. He sat out the 2-1 Ligue 1 victory over Marseille on 20 September, but was fit enough to play the final 22 minutes of Morocco's 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win over Lesotho on 29 September, according to Morocco World News.
Back in the PSG squad
Morocco World News reported on 10 October that he had returned to the PSG squad for the league meeting with Le Mans at the Parc des Princes. Four days later he was part of one of the results of the European season so far: PSG won 4-2 at Manchester City in the Champions League, a victory that took the holders to the top of the league-phase table. Hakimi came close to a goal himself, hitting the post with a header, according to France 24 and ESPN.
- Return to PSG: August 2026, after skipping pre-season tour
- Injury: minor right thigh problem, forced off at Brest on 13 September
- Matches missed: PSG 2-1 Marseille (20 September)
- Back in action: 22 minutes for Morocco v Lesotho; back in PSG squad by 10 October
- Latest: header off the post in PSG's 4-2 win at Manchester City
Role and playing style: the attacking right-back
Hakimi is a right-back by trade, but few defenders spend as much time in the opposition half. His trademark is raw speed over long distances, which allows him to overlap, underlap or arrive late in the box, then recover to his defensive position when the ball is lost. Over the years he has also been used as a right wing-back in systems with three centre-backs, a role that suits his stamina and his willingness to run the whole flank.
He is comfortable on the ball, combines well in tight spaces with the right-sided midfielders and wingers around him, and is a regular threat from crosses and cut-backs. That attacking output, combined with his leadership as Morocco captain, is a big reason why he features among the Ballon d'Or nominees, a rare distinction for a full-back.
Achraf Hakimi career path: Madrid, Dortmund, Milan and Paris
Hakimi was born on 4 November 1998 in Getafe, in the Madrid region, to Moroccan parents. He came through Real Madrid's academy and made his first-team debut in 2017, before spending two seasons on loan at Borussia Dortmund between 2018 and 2020. A move to Inter Milan followed in 2020, and he won the Serie A title in his only season there. In July 2021 he signed for Paris Saint-Germain, and in 2025 he extended his contract to 2029, according to Morocco World News.
| Period | Club | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Youth - 2018 | Real Madrid | Academy graduate; first-team debut in 2017 |
| 2018-2020 | Borussia Dortmund (loan) | Two seasons in the Bundesliga |
| 2020-2021 | Inter Milan | Serie A champion 2020-21 |
| 2021-present | Paris Saint-Germain | Multiple Ligue 1 titles; Champions League 2024-25 and 2025-26 |
Honours and records
Hakimi's time in Paris has delivered the most important trophies of his career. He has won multiple Ligue 1 titles with PSG and was part of the side that won the club's first European Cup in 2024-25. In 2025-26 PSG retained the trophy, beating Arsenal on penalties in Budapest after a 1-1 draw (4-3 in the shoot-out); AP reported that he had been declared fit for the final after a thigh problem.
- UEFA Champions League: 2024-25, 2025-26 (PSG)
- Ligue 1: multiple titles (PSG)
- Serie A: 2020-21 (Inter)
- CAF African Player of the Year: 2025
- Ballon d'Or 2026: on the 30-man shortlist
Being named CAF African Player of the Year for 2025 placed him alongside the continent's greatest names, and a defender winning that award remains unusual.
International career: Morocco's captain
For Morocco, Hakimi has been at the centre of the country's most famous chapter. He was a key figure in the run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the first time an African or Arab nation reached that stage. Four years later he captained the Atlas Lions at the 2026 World Cup, setting up the opening goal in a 3-0 round-of-16 win over co-hosts Canada. Their tournament ended in the quarter-finals on 9 July 2026, when France won 2-0.
His late cameo against Lesotho on 29 September showed both his importance and the care being taken with his fitness after the thigh injury, with Morocco continuing their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
What's next for Achraf Hakimi
The immediate focus is on rebuilding his rhythm after the injury lay-off, with PSG fighting on the domestic front and defending their European crown from the top of the Champions League table. Away from the pitch, he will be in contention on 26 October 2026, when the Ballon d'Or is presented in London, as reported by Sky Sports. With his PSG contract running to 2029, the Moroccan remains a central part of the Parisian project. Check PSG's upcoming fixtures and live scores on our live scores page.