Since his senior debut in 2016, Hakimi has been at the centre of Morocco’s modern football rise. From Real Madrid’s academy to Borussia Dortmund, Inter and now PSG, he’s evolved into one of the world’s most feared full-backs because of his precision and positional intelligence.
At the 2022 World Cup, Hakimi played every minute of Morocco’s historic run to the semi-finals, contributing directly to wins over Spain and Portugal. His audacious Panenka penalty against Spain became a defining symbol of Morocco’s fearless identity. Since then, he’s captained the national team in 15 matches, leading them to a perfect start in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and earning a sixth-place finish in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, which is the highest ever by a Moroccan player.
For Regragui, Hakimi’s influence is irreplaceable having played 88 games across all competitions for Morocco while scoring 11 goals and registering 15 assists. “He drives the group emotionally and tactically,” the coach said. “He brings balance, ambition, and belief.”
But should he miss the opening games, Noussair Mazraoui, the Manchester United full-back, is ready to step up. Regragui’s faith in him is clear: “I have always considered Mazraoui to be of the same calibre as Hakimi. He is a very great player. It is up to him to help us now. I have no doubt about Noussair, he is a soldier."