Moroccan trio Hakimi, Bounou and Bouaddi make mark at Ballon d’Or

Moroccan internationals Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bounou and Ayoub Bouaddi earned recognition at the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards after securing places in the final rankings of three major individual categories.

Hakimi finished 13th in the Ballon d’Or rankings for the world’s best player, while goalkeeper Bounou placed eighth in the Yashin Trophy standings. Youngster Bouaddi, meanwhile, secured sixth position in the race for the Kopa Trophy.

Hakimi, who plays for French giants Paris Saint-Germain, was the highest-ranked Moroccan in the main award category, finishing ahead of several established European stars, including his PSG teammate Vitinha, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice and Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior.

The right-back continues to be an influential figure for both PSG and the Moroccan national team, combining his defensive responsibilities with attacking contributions from the right flank.

Bounou also featured among the top 10 goalkeepers in the Yashin Trophy rankings, finishing eighth in a category topped by Spain’s Unai Simón. The Moroccan shot-stopper placed ahead of Senegal international Édouard Mendy, who finished ninth, and Switzerland’s Gregor Kobel in 10th.

Meanwhile, Bouaddi secured sixth place in the Kopa Trophy rankings for the world’s best young player, with Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal claiming the award.

The Moroccan youngster featured alongside several of Europe’s promising talents, including Pau Cubarsí, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Lennart Karl and Yann Diomandé.

Although none of the three Moroccans claimed an individual award, their presence across the different categories highlighted the country’s representation among established stars, leading goalkeepers and emerging talents.

The results provided another moment of recognition for Moroccan football, with Hakimi, Bounou and Bouaddi each featuring in the final rankings of their respective awards.