Moroccan Achraf Hakimi matches Samuel Eto’o’s Champions League record

Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi has written another chapter in African football history after matching a UEFA Champions League record previously held solely by Cameroonian legend Samuel Eto’o.

Hakimi reached the milestone on Saturday as Paris Saint-Germain lifted the Champions League trophy following their victory over Arsenal in Budapest.

The success added another prestigious honour to the defender’s career and placed him alongside one of Africa’s most celebrated footballers in the competition’s history.

At 27, Hakimi has now won the Champions League three times, a feat that elevates him into an exclusive group of players who have claimed Europe’s most prestigious club trophy on multiple occasions.

More significantly, it means the Moroccan now shares the record for the most Champions League titles won by an African player.

Until now, that distinction belonged exclusively to former Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o. The legendary forward secured his three titles with Barcelona in 2006 and 2009 before lifting the trophy again with Inter Milan in 2010.

Hakimi’s latest triumph ensures his name now stands alongside Eto’o’s in the record books. The Moroccan defender had already established himself among Africa’s elite footballers through his performances at both club and international level, but this latest achievement further strengthens his legacy.

The PSG full-back’s Champions League journey began several years ago, and his collection of European titles has continued to grow.

Having already celebrated success in previous editions of the tournament, he has now reached a landmark that only a handful of players from the continent have ever achieved.

Another notable aspect of Hakimi’s accomplishment is that he has equalled Eto’o’s record of winning back-to-back Champions League titles.

While the former Cameroon captain achieved consecutive triumphs with two different clubs, Hakimi has now matched that rare feat through his own European success.

The achievement also places him among a select group of African footballers who have enjoyed repeated Champions League glory.

Among them is Senegalese winger Ibrahim Mbaye, Hakimi’s PSG teammate, who also boasts consecutive titles in the competition.

For Hakimi, the latest Champions League victory represents more than another medal. It is recognition of his consistency at the highest level of European football and confirmation of his place among the most decorated African players in the history of the tournament.

By drawing level with Samuel Eto’o, the Moroccan defender has secured a place alongside one of the continent’s greatest football icons and further enhanced an already remarkable career.