Achraf Hakimi emerges as strong Ballon d'Or contender after stellar season
A key figure for Paris Saint-Germain, Hakimi has delivered consistently strong performances across all competitions: Ligue 1, the Champions League, and the Club World Cup. His influence on PSG's style of play is widely recognized, well beyond France. While Ousmane Dembélé tops the overall ranking compiled by Le Parisien, ahead of Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona) and Vitinha (PSG), Hakimi is frequently ranked third or fourth, ahead of stars like Mohamed Salah and Kylian Mbappé.
«I hear that Ousmane Dembélé is receiving a lot of praise, but I truly believe the best players in this PSG side, and among the top three in world football over the past 12 months, are those in less glamorous roles: two exceptional full-backs, Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, and a playmaker, Vitinha. They've been brilliant», said British journalist Oliver Kay (The Athletic), underscoring the international acclaim for the Atlas Lion.
Dembélé, meanwhile, also left his mark on the season with several decisive performances. «This is the best version of Ousmane», said Ahmed Adala (Radio Mosaïque FM, Tunisia), hailing the forward's new-found maturity. Dominique Sévérac (Le Parisien) described Dembélé's role in PSG's pressing game as «self-evident».
Spanish-Moroccan prodigy Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona also captured global attention. At just 17, he dazzled in the Champions League. «His game is mesmerizing», wrote Bruno Alemany (Cadena SER, Spain), calling his style an inspiration worthy of the game's greats.
Le Parisien's ranking system assigns points based on placement (15 for first, 12 for second, and so on). While Ousmane Dembélé currently leads the tally, Achraf Hakimi is emerging as a serious and deserving challenger—bolstered by an exceptional season with both PSG and the Moroccan national team.
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