Hakimi’s Third Champions League Title Places Him Among Africa’s Greats

Rabat – Achraf Hakimi has written another historic chapter in Moroccan and African football after helping Paris Saint‑Germain retain the UEFA Champions League with a dramatic win over Arsenal in Budapest.

PSG defeated Arsenal 4‑3 on penalties after a 1‑1 draw at the Puskás Aréna, securing back‑to‑back European crowns.

For Hakimi, the win carried special meaning: he is now the first Moroccan player to win three Champions League titles, joining Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o among the rare African footballers with three or more medals.

Hakimi’s Champions League journey

Hakimi’s first triumph came with Real Madrid in 2017‑18, when he was still a young academy graduate breaking into the senior team.

Though not yet a regular starter, he featured during the campaign and collected his first European medal as Madrid completed their famous three‑peat under Zinedine Zidane.

His second title arrived in 2025, when PSG finally lifted the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Hakimi played a decisive role in the 5‑0 final win over Inter Milan in Munich, opening the scoring against his former club. That goal made him the first Moroccan to score in a Champions League final and cemented his place in PSG’s breakthrough moment.

Now, in 2026, Hakimi has helped PSG defend the trophy. His consistency, pace, and attacking presence from right‑back have made him one of Luis Enrique’s most trusted players.

In a team built on intensity and quick transitions, Hakimi provides width, recovery speed, and attacking threat, proving himself indispensable in Europe’s biggest matches.

Joining Samuel Eto’o in African history

Hakimi’s achievement places him alongside Samuel Eto’o, widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest players. Eto’o won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2006 and 2009, and with Inter Milan in 2010.

By reaching three titles, Hakimi joins this elite company. Only two African players have lifted the trophy more than twice, and Hakimi now stands out as Morocco’s most decorated footballer on the European stage.

Hakimi’s success with PSG extends beyond the Champions League. Since joining the club in 2021, he has collected multiple Ligue 1 titles and domestic cups.

He was part of PSG’s historic treble in 2025, winning the Champions League, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France in the same season.

At the international level, Hakimi is already a national icon. He played a central role in Morocco’s run to the 2022 World Cup semifinals, the first time an African team had reached that stage.

His performances for the Atlas Lions confirmed his status as one of the best right‑backs in the world. He also helped Morocco win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Senegal in the final.

Moroccan legacy in the Champions League

Hakimi’s triumph adds to Morocco’s growing Champions League legacy. Munir El Haddadi was part of Barcelona’s 2015 squad, Hakim Ziyech lifted the trophy with Chelsea in 2021, and Brahim Diaz won it with Real Madrid in 2024 after choosing to represent Morocco internationally.

Yet Hakimi now stands above them all in terms of medals. Three titles, across two clubs, and a decisive role in PSG’s European breakthrough place him in a category of his own.

At 27, Hakimi has already built a trophy cabinet that many players never achieve in an entire career. From Madrid to Paris, he has shown consistency, ambition, and elite‑level impact. His third Champions League medal is not just another addition; it is proof of his place among the greatest African football stories of all time.

Read also: Hakimi’s PSG Beat Arsenal on Penalties to Retain Champions League Title