Achraf Hakimi has added another prestigious accolade to his impressive career, becoming the 2025 recipient of the Marc-Vivien Foé Award. The Moroccan right-back, a key figure for Paris Saint-Germain, makes history as the first player from the French capital’s powerhouse club to claim this honor. The award, jointly presented by Radio France Internationale and France 24, celebrates the top African player competing in France’s Ligue 1 each season.
Hakimi’s dominance throughout the campaign left little doubt about the outcome. He collected a commanding 364 points in the vote, leaving his nearest rival, Ivorian striker Evann Guessand, trailing with 165 points. Senegalese midfielder Habib Diarra came in third with 43 points. Hakimi succeeds 2024 winner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and joins an elite group of Moroccan players previously honored: Marouane Chamakh in 2009, Younès Belhanda in 2012, and Sofiane Boufal in 2016.
Throughout the season, Hakimi’s influence on PSG’s title run was undeniable. From his position at right-back, he contributed four goals and eight assists in league play, consistently providing both defensive solidity and attacking flair. Speaking to RFI after the announcement, Hakimi shared his excitement, saying, “It’s an enormous honor. Being recognized after so many years of hard work is truly rewarding.”
In addition to his club achievements, Hakimi has been a cornerstone for Morocco’s national team, where he captains the squad and has earned 83 caps, scoring 10 goals. This latest award only amplifies his growing stature both domestically and on the international stage. Often a runner-up in major honors, Hakimi now sets his sights on the 2025 African Footballer of the Year award, a prize that narrowly eluded him the previous year.
At 25, Hakimi also becomes just the second defender to ever win the Marc-Vivien Foé Award, following Chancel Mbemba’s triumph in 2023. With the upcoming African Footballer of the Year ceremony on the horizon, Hakimi’s latest recognition cements his status as one of the continent’s most prominent football figures.
