Morocco star Achraf Hakimi opens up on tough first season playing with Messi at PSG

Morocco international Achraf Hakimi has revealed that the arrival of Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain significantly altered his role and contributed to a challenging first season in Paris.

Hakimi joined PSG in a €68 million move from Inter Milan in the summer of 2021, arriving as one of Europe’s most exciting attacking full-backs. Having thrived in a dynamic, attack-minded system at Inter, expectations were high that the Morocco international would continue his upward trajectory in the French capital.

However, the landscape changed dramatically following Messi’s sensational arrival later that same window. While PSG had already boasted superstars like Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, the addition of Messi shifted the team’s balance and tactical structure—something Hakimi says had a direct impact on his game.

“My first season at PSG was very difficult,” Hakimi admitted. “I came from Inter, from Dortmund… I was a different kind of full-back, one who attacked, who scored, with a team that played with me, where I was important.”

At Inter, Hakimi had flourished in a system that maximized his attacking instincts, registering 18 goal contributions in 45 appearances during his final season in Italy. But in Paris, he found himself adjusting to a different style—one that required more restraint on the right flank.

“After I arrived in Paris, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé were already there, but Messi had not yet arrived. Naturally, when he arrived, PSG’s play style changed,” Hakimi explained. “When I signed, I didn’t know that Messi was coming too. So the play style is different; he is there, so I can no longer attack. I have to stay behind.”

The Moroccan captain went on to describe the emotional toll the adjustment took on him, admitting that he felt restricted and even misunderstood at times.

“I felt like a ‘small player’,” he said. “Especially since I was an important player for Morocco, so it was difficult for me to be the player I wanted to be in Paris. I was criticised a lot… people were asking why I was playing differently for my country than for PSG. It was hard.”

Despite the challenges, Hakimi still managed a respectable return in his debut season, finishing with 4 goals and 6 assists. However, his attacking influence became more pronounced in the following campaign, where he recorded 11 goals and 16 assists, playing a key role in PSG’s success in the UEFA Champions League.

This season, he has continued to deliver consistently, contributing 10 goal involvements in 24 appearances, reaffirming his status as one of the most dynamic full-backs in world football.

Hakimi’s journey highlights the delicate balance within star-studded squads, where individual roles must often be sacrificed for collective brilliance. While Messi’s arrival reshaped PSG’s system, Hakimi has ultimately adapted—emerging stronger, more versatile, and still capable of making decisive contributions on the biggest stage.