Morocco star Achraf Hakimi buzzing after netting first career hat-trick

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has expressed his delight after scoring the first hat-trick of his professional career in Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-1 victory over Le Havre in Ligue 1 on Friday.

The 27-year-old right-back produced a remarkable display in the ninth round of the French top flight, scoring three goals and providing two assists to contribute directly to all five of PSG’s goals.

Speaking after the match, Hakimi described the achievement as a special moment, particularly given his position as a defender.

“My first career hat-trick? It’s incredible, especially because I play as a full-back,” Hakimi said.

Hakimi credits Luis Enrique’s tactical freedom

The Moroccan international explained that the attacking freedom provided by PSG head coach Luis Enrique has helped him become more influential in the final third.

“They give me a lot of freedom, and my teammates help me a lot to find spaces. The confidence the coach has in me also helps,” he explained.

Hakimi has increasingly become an important attacking outlet for the French champions, regularly moving into advanced positions to create chances and threaten opposition defences.

He also highlighted the understanding between himself and his teammates, explaining that their movement and positional awareness allow him to join attacks without leaving his defensive responsibilities uncovered.

The right-back revealed that he sometimes finds himself operating in a central attacking position, while teammates cover the space he leaves behind.

“I feel comfortable in front of goal, and I enjoy it,” Hakimi added.

Moroccan star keeps match ball as souvenir

Hakimi’s performance against Le Havre marked a major personal milestone for the defender, who has built his reputation on combining defensive discipline with attacking quality.

Since joining PSG from Inter Milan in July 2021, he has established himself as one of the club’s influential players under successive tactical systems.

His pace, technical ability and attacking instincts have made him a key part of Luis Enrique’s team.

Following his historic performance, Hakimi revealed that he kept the match ball as a souvenir of his first professional hat-trick. His teammates were also expected to sign it in the dressing room.

The achievement comes after the Moroccan finished 13th in the 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings, securing a place among the world’s top 15 players for the second consecutive year.

His latest performance adds another milestone to his career and reinforces his importance to both PSG and the Moroccan national team.