Achraf Hakimi injury raises fresh concerns ahead of PSG’s Marseille trip

Achraf Hakimi is awaiting medical test results after going off injured during Paris Saint-Germain’s 1-0 win at Brest, with the Morocco international’s fitness under scrutiny after two lengthy absences last season.

The right-back felt discomfort in his adductor during the first half and attempted to continue before asking to be substituted in the 39th minute. PSG manager Luis Enrique said the extent of the problem would not be known until Hakimi had undergone examinations.

The timing is a concern for Paris Saint-Germain, who travel to Marseille for the Classique in a week. Sunday’s victory was their first in Ligue 1 this season, but it came at the cost of another spell on the sidelines for one of their key players.

According to Transfermarkt’s injury history, Hakimi missed 22 matches through injury in 2025-2026. He was absent for 17 games after suffering a serious ankle sprain in November and missed a further five because of a thigh problem in the spring.

Those two injuries kept him out for a combined 80 days, a significant contrast with the player who appeared capable of maintaining an exceptionally demanding schedule during 2024-2025. However, that record alone does not make Hakimi “fragile”. His ankle injury followed a heavy tackle by Luis Diaz, while the later thigh problem was muscular and unrelated.

The interruptions nonetheless raised questions about the effect of injuries during an important period for Morocco. Hakimi had to race to be fit for the Africa Cup of Nations, then face another recovery deadline to play in the Champions League final and the World Cup.

There have also been questions over his output. Hakimi continues to make repeated high-intensity runs, but his influence in the final third has appeared less consistent than in 2024-2025. L’Equipe reported last week that he had been involved in a decisive action every 335 minutes in 2026, compared with every 194 minutes in 2025.

It would be too early to attribute that difference solely to his periods out of action. Changes among PSG’s right-sided partners have also altered his understanding and combinations in that area.

PSG have no direct replacement with the same profile. Warren Zaire-Emery can cover at right-back, but does not offer all of Hakimi’s attacking qualities.

Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi will also be monitoring the results. The Lions of the Atlas are due to begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Gabon on 25 September and Lesotho on 29 September, before playing high-profile friendlies in early October. At present, there is no confirmation that Hakimi will miss any of those fixtures.

Managing the workload of the former Inter Milan player is not a new issue. PSG and Morocco had already introduced a specific programme aimed at reducing his injury risk after his heavy run of matches for club and country.

Hakimi’s qualities have not disappeared, but the latest setback may reinforce the need for carefully managed recovery. The medical diagnosis will determine the immediate outlook, followed by how Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco handle his return.