Football Legend Cafu Says Hakimi is the Best Right Back in the World
Italian sports-focused outlet Gazzetta quoted Cafu, who, without hesitation, commented on Hakimi and described him as the best in the world right now.
The remarks come amid a consensus on Hakimi's stellar performance with PSG this season, earning him not only recognition but also support for his Ballon d'Or bid.
Fans, public figures from football and beyond are backing the Atlas Lion bid as a potential winner — or at least among the top three contenders — for the Ballon d'Or international award.
Additionally, several renowned players from Morocco and beyond believe Hakimi deserves the Ballon d'Or.
Morocco's Youssef Chippo said recently that if Hakimi wins the Ballon d'Or, it wouldn't be a mere gift, but that he deserves it.
'He was consistent, decisive, and always stepped up,' he told Le360, adding that the Atlas Lion maintained a 'very high level of performance from the first match to last,' unlike other football stars like Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Debele.
French coach Hervé Renard said the same, also noting that he thinks Hakimi is the Ballon d'Or of this season.
He shared the same perspective as former Morocco coach Badou Zaki, who said that the Ballon d'Or must go to the player who outshines the rest, and that is Hakimi, who contributed to his team's triumphs during the whole season. Tags: Achraf HakimiAtlas Lion Achraf Hakimi
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Morocco World
a day ago
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The Hakimi Play: France's Theatre of Justice
Achraf Hakimi: By any footballing measure, Achraf Hakimi has just had the season of his life. Four trophies with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) – including the club's first UEFA Champions League – 27 goal involvements from right-back, and a tactical mutation under Luis Enrique that saw him playing more winger than a right-back. The Atlas Lion is now hurtling, eyes fixed on football's most gilded prey — the Ballon d'Or. Until, of course, the French justice system decided to butt in. Last Friday, French prosecutors gave the kiss of life to a two-and-a-half-year-old rape case. The timing is suspicious. One could argue it reeks of sabotage to the benefit of none other than Hakimi's PSG teammate – and French international – Ousmane Dembélé. So, let's unpack this murky farce. The Case That Refused to Die On February 27, 2023, the Nanterre prosecutor opened a preliminary investigation into Hakimi. Oddly, no official complaint had been filed. No medical certificate. No physical evidence. Nothing that typically kickstarts such a serious accusation. Yet the judicial gears turned. And just as the Ballon d'Or jury was set to consider its shortlist of nominees, France wants to send the Moroccan star to the criminal court. A Shaky Accusation The case itself is riddled with inconsistencies. Leaked messages between the accuser – dubbed 'Amélie' – and her friend Nadia paint a picture more of premeditated manipulation and financial blackmail than victimhood. Hours before visiting Hakimi's home, Amélie texted 'J'ai le démon mdrr,' while Nadia urged her to go 'mode femme fatale' and 'dépouiller' the player – street slang for robbing someone blind. They even exchanged lyrics from a French rap song about taking risks for financial gain. At 1:15 am, Amélie reportedly texted that she was keen on a sexual encounter. Yet post-incident, she refused to share the full exchange with the police. It was only after detectives grilled her friend that these incriminating messages surfaced, which the accuser had deleted. Hakimi, for his part, has flatly denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer has decried the prosecution's demand for trial as 'insane.' Kylian Mbappé, the most valuable French footballer on Earth, backed his former teammate, stating Hakimi is 'respectful with women' and never exhibited any inappropriate behaviour. The Club des Avocats au Maroc has now stepped in, forming an independent commission to scrutinise the legal circus. Their concerns are about whether French justice is playing fair. So Why Now? Because it's all so perfectly orchestrated. Hakimi's bid for the Ballon d'Or is backed by substance: stats, trophies, records, performances. But France wouldn't dare let a Moroccan lay his hands on the Ballon d'Or in lieu of their golden boy. Hakimi is now cloaked in controversy. Not from new evidence. Not from trial proceedings. But from media noise, carefully timed to stain his image ahead of the Ballon d'Or voting. Hakimi may be facing the match of his life, not on the pitch but in the court of public opinion. In the end, history may judge Hakimi not by the awards he didn't win, but by the smear campaign he survived. And if France thinks it can quietly hand the Ballon d'Or to Dembélé through judicial puppeteering, it may well find the world is watching – and not buying a single word. Tags: HakimiL'ÉquipeMoroccoOusmane Dembele
Morocco World
2 days ago
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Alleged Rape Case: Why Hakimi's Ballon d'Or Bid Stirs More Than Applause?
Rabat – Morocco's superstar — or 'his mom's darling,' as fans affectionately call him in admiration of his close family ties – Achraf Hakimi is facing a legal drama that resurfaced as his career hits new highs. The Atlas Lion, however, gained a powerful wave of solidarity as more conflicting testimonies and hidden messages surrounding the case have come to light. What's particularly suspicious is the timing. The case surrounding the unproven rape allegations and claims dates back to early 2023. The case, however, is now being pushed back into the headlines after the Nanterre prosecutor's office said Hakimi might face trial for these allegations just days before the announcement of the Ballon d'Or. This raised questions about whether the allegations were ever about justice at all. French football-focused website L'Equipe has published a timeline of the legal case that Hakimi is facing in France, stemming from a complaint a 24-year-old woman filed against him in early 2023. The claims L'Equipe reported that the case dates back to February 24, 2023, when Hakimi invited a 24-year-old woman to his place. The woman had been chatting with Hakimi through Instagram before their meeting. She claimed he 'kissed her without her consent,' alleging that they had a 'long conversation.' What raises even more questions and suspicion is the contrast between the complainant's claims. She alleged that she 'repeatedly asked' Hakimi to stop and 'expressed fear about the personal consequences her revelations might bring.' However, she alleged that she only sought to report the incident at the police station without pressing formal charges. In her complaint, she said Hakimi 'was not violent.' During the same night with Hakimi, she maintained text conversations with her friend. The same friend eventually came to pick her up. Many also suspected the case, as the woman herself emphasized she was actively using her phone throughout the encounter. Given Hakim's high-profile status, many suggest that it will be unlikely for the player to risk being secretly recorded or filmed during the situation. The complainant's friend received messages like 'This is really serious. I'm coming back, it's really serious. He's raping me, I swear on my mother's life. I can't get out.' Funny, Colin, Hakimi's lawyer said the complainant refused to share the messages exchanged before she arrived at Hakimi's house. She said this shows a 'deliberate attempt to hide the truth.' L'Equipe, however, quoted messages investigators obtained before she arrived at Hakimi's house. 'Ugh, I'm so pissed lol,' the complainant said in a message before her friend asked her to listen to the rap song 'A l'abri' by 'Fresh La Peufra.' 'I had no choice but to take this risk to protect my family,' the complainant said. The friend also asked the complainant to play the role of a 'femme fatale.' 'Try to crack the codes and everything…We're gonna rob him…. We're street girls,' some of the messages between the two friends read. Hakimi's lawyer said the messages about 'cracking the codes' are an attempted blackmail scheme. Hakimi's testimony On March 2, 2023, Hakimi gave his testimony on the case, emphasizing that the woman was lying. He stressed that her allegations sought to destroy his career. Hakimi acknowledged that they kissed and laughed because her lip gloss stung. He said they went to the kitchen to rinse their mouths and kissed again, and moved to the couch, where she continued using her phone. 'She told me she was working, which I respected. We kept kissing -longer kisses- with my hand on her lower back. She said, Nothing will happen on the first night. I respected that. I said Ok. We kept kissing, but she kept using her phone,' Hakimi said. Mbappe's testimony Kylian Mbappe also gave his statement to the investigators. Hakimi's former teammate said that he discussed the situation with Hakimi and emphasized he trusts his friend. 'Achraf Hakimi is respectful toward women. Even when drunk, I've never seen him act inappropriately,' Mbappe said. He added, 'Even when I wasn't there, no female friends ever came back to me saying he crossed any lines.' Fans in Morocco and France are increasingly suspecting a calculated maneuver behind the case and its sudden resurfacing, especially as the Ballon d'Or nominations approach. Many see this as a targeted attack fueled by jealousy. One commentator on X said : ' Just days before the Ballon d'Or nominations, France brought out a file against Haimi. It's disgraceful! The French are consumed by jealousy and cannot accept that a Moroccan might be the best.' Another one added: 'Just to get him out of the Ballon d'Or picture, what a cheap move, and the club didn't say anything about it better for Hakimi to go to another club.' 'They can fabricate cases, bribe journalists, and try to tarnish his name… Hakimi keeps moving forward, crushing everything in his path. Next stop: Ballon d'Or 2025,' another one said . Tags: Achraf HakimiAchraf Hakimi and Kylian Mbappe
Morocco World
3 days ago
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Lawyer Says ‘Strong Evidence' Clears Hakimi as Mbappé Stands by Him in Rape Case
Rabat – Achraf Hakimi's lawyer, Fanny Colin, says there is 'strong evidence' that clears the Moroccan football star of any wrongdoing, as French prosecutors officially requested a rape trial against him. 'We will fight until the end to make sure the truth comes out and that it is clearly said and understood that Achraf Hakimi did not do or say anything wrong,' Colin told RMC Sport. She added that the accusations are based on a version of events that she considers 'incoherent' and lacking any signs of trauma usually seen in similar cases. The case dates back to February 2023, when a 24-year-old woman accused Hakimi of forcing her into a non-consensual sexual act at his home near Paris. The public prosecutor's office in Nanterre asked on Friday for the 26-year-old to be tried by a criminal court. Hakimi has firmly denied the allegations since the beginning of the investigation. Now, the decision lies with the investigating judge, who will determine whether the case will go to trial. If convicted, Hakimi could face up to 15 years in prison. His lawyer also questioned the woman's story, calling it inconsistent. 'In 99.9% of sexual assault cases, there is at least some sign of trauma, whether it's nightmares, weight changes, or anything else. Here, there is nothing,' she argued. Colin added that she remains calm even if a trial happens, saying the truth will come out. 'Never seen him behave inappropriately' The alleged incident happened on February 25, 2023, one day before a big PSG match that Hakimi missed. The woman says she met the footballer through Instagram and was driven to his house in a car ordered by him. She claims he kissed her and touched her without consent, even after she told him no. She says she managed to push him away and called a friend to pick her up. French football star Kylian Mbappé, who was a close teammate of Hakimi at Paris Saint-Germain, also gave a statement to the police. He defended his friend, saying, 'Achraf Hakimi is respectful toward women. Even when drinking, I've never seen him behave inappropriately.' He added that he had never heard of any women saying Hakimi had crossed the line. Mbappé also talked about the night Hakimi found out about the investigation, saying he cried and was emotionally shaken. Mbappé supported the idea that the case might be a setup, pointing to messages from the woman that suggest a plan to get money from Hakimi. In one text, the woman reportedly wrote, 'We're going to rob him!' although she later said it was just a joke to relieve stress. The case has resurfaced at a sensitive time for Hakimi, who is said to be gaining international support for his performance on the field and is reportedly being considered in the race for the Ballon d'Or. Some fans and commentators now question whether the renewed focus on the case is part of a campaign against him just as he is reaching new career heights. Tags: Achraf Hakimirapetrial
