World Cup 2026: Morocco star Achraf Hakimi strengthens place among Africa’s greats

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has added another landmark achievement to his growing list of accomplishments, further cementing his status as one of the most influential figures in African football during the 2026 World Cup.

The Moroccan international continues to attract global recognition for his performances at both club and international level. Spanish sports newspaper Marca described the Atlas Lions defender as a “living figure of African football”, highlighting a career filled with records, trophies and consistent excellence on the biggest stages.

Hakimi’s latest achievement comes during a period of sustained success. The defender was crowned African Player of the Year last November and recently completed a historic season with his Paris club, winning five major trophies. Those honours included the league title, the Champions League, the domestic cup, the national super cup and the UEFA Super Cup.

According to statistics published by Marca, Hakimi has now become the most decorated player in African football history with 19 team titles to his name.

His influence extends well beyond club football. Since helping Morocco achieve a historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 26-year-old has remained a central figure for the national team. He has once again played a leading role at the 2026 tournament as Morocco continue their campaign.

Hakimi started both of Morocco’s opening matches, including the 1-1 draw against Brazil and the 1-0 victory over Scotland. Those appearances enabled him to set another significant milestone by becoming the African player with the most matches played in World Cup finals.

The record stands at 12 appearances, spanning three tournaments. He featured three times at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, made seven appearances during Morocco’s memorable run in Qatar four years later, and has already added two more matches in the current competition.

His contribution to the national side goes beyond appearances alone. Approaching a century of international caps, Hakimi has represented Morocco 98 times, scoring 11 goals and providing 19 assists.

As Morocco pursue further success at the World Cup, Hakimi continues to strengthen a legacy that already places him among the most accomplished footballers the African continent has produced.

His performances, consistency and record-breaking achievements underline why he remains one of the defining figures of modern African football.