From Madrid’s streets to the stars: How Achraf Hakimi became world’s best defender

At just 26, Achraf Hakimi has risen from the modest streets of Getafe, Spain, to become the world’s best right-back, a Moroccan trailblazer whose speed, versatility, and big-game mentality have redefined the modern full-back role. Named the best right-back for the 2024/25 season by Score 90 and Ligue 1’s Team of the Season, Hakimi’s journey, from Real Madrid’s youth academy to captaining Morocco to Olympic bronze and leading Paris Saint-Germain to their first UEFA Champions League title in 2025 proves his relentless drive and unique talent. This piece is set to explore how Hakimi became the world’s best defender.

Hakimi’s humble beginning

Born on November 4, 1998, in Madrid to Moroccan parents, Hakimi grew up in Getafe, a working-class suburb, where his father, Mohamed, worked as a street vendor and his mother, Saida, was a housewife. Football offered an escape from economic hardship, and at age eight, Hakimi joined Colonia Ofigevi, a local club, before catching the eye of Real Madrid’s scouts. Joining La Fábrica in 2006, he initially played as a winger, showcasing blistering pace and technical flair. His transition to right-back under youth coaches, leveraging his physical presence and attacking instincts, set the stage for a remarkable career.

Hakimi’s professional debut came at 17 with Real Madrid Castilla in 2016, and by October 2017, he made his La Liga debut for the senior team, starting in a 2-0 win over Espanyol. Despite scoring against Sevilla and Celta Vigo and contributing to Real Madrid’s 2017/18 Champions League triumph, he struggled for minutes behind Dani Carvajal. A two-year loan to Borussia Dortmund in 2018 changed everything, where his lethal counter-attacking shine. Scoring 9 goals and providing 17 assists in 73 matches.

The rise of Hakimi

Hakimi’s €43 million move to Inter Milan in 2020 was a masterstroke by Antonio Conte, whose wing-back system unleashed the Moroccan’s attacking prowess. He scored 7 goals and provided 11 assists in 45 appearances, helping Inter win the 2020/21 Serie A title, their first in 11 years. His €68 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 cemented his status as a marquee signing, and under Luis Enrique, he has thrived, winning four Ligue 1 titles (2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25) and the 2025 Champions League. His February 2025 contract extension until 2029, reportedly making him the highest-paid right-back at €14 million per season, reflects his value to PSG.

Internationally, Hakimi has been Morocco’s talisman. Debuting at 17 in 2016, he has 85 caps and 13 goals by June 2025, captaining the Atlas Lions to a historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup, Africa’s best-ever result. His decisive Panenka penalty against Spain in the round of 16 remains iconic, as does his free-kick against Malawi at AFCON 2021. As captain of Morocco’s 2024 Olympic team, he scored and assisted in a 6-0 bronze-medal win over Egypt, earning widespread acclaim.

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Hakimi’s 2024/25 season

Hakimi’s 2024/25 season was his finest, solidifying his claim as the world’s best defender. Playing 41 matches for PSG across all competitions, he scored 9 goals and provided 11 assists, with standout performances in high-stakes games. In Ligue 1, he contributed 4 goals and 6 assists in 25 matches, averaging 0.44 goal involvements per 90 minutes, while his defensive stats included 2.09 tackles, 1.23 interceptions, and 0.59 clearances per 90. His 90.95% pass completion and 2.32 key passes per game ranked him in Ligue 1’s 97th percentile for expected assists (0.39 xA per 90).

In the Champions League, Hakimi was pivotal to PSG’s first-ever title, scoring in the quarterfinal against Aston Villa, the semifinal second leg against Arsenal (2-1 win), and the final against Inter Milan (5-0 victory on May 31, 2025), becoming the first player to score against a former club in a Champions League final. He also netted in the Coupe de France final, a 3-0 win over Reims on May 24, 2025. His 19 goal involvements across Ligue 1 and the Champions League, plus a French Cup goal, earned him spots in both competitions’ Teams of the Season.

Playing style of Hakimi

Hakimi’s ascent to the top stems from a rare blend of attributes that redefine the right-back role. Initially a winger, his speed (36.1 km/h, among the fastest in Ligue 1) and dribbling (1.8 successful dribbles per 90) make him a threat. His ability to play as a right-back, wing-back, or even left-back, as seen under Morocco’s Walid Regragui, highlights his versatility. Hakimi’s 9 goals in 2024/25, including long-range strikes and a penalty-box finish against Inter, reflect his ability. His 2.32 key passes and 0.39 xA per 90 rank him above 97% of Ligue 1 players, while his 33 chances created in 2022/23 remain a benchmark for defenders. Despite his attacking flair, Hakimi’s 2.09 tackles, 1.23 interceptions, and 7 clean sheets in 25 Ligue 1 matches show his defensive growth under Luis Enrique. His 109-minute concession rate (19 goals conceded) is elite for a full-back.

His 82.91 passes per game with 90.95% accuracy and 6th-ranked progressive passes at Dortmund (2019/20) demonstrate his playmaking ability, ideal for PSG’s possession-based style. At 1.81m, Hakimi’s physical presence and relentless energy (93 touches in the Champions League final) make him a constant threat, though his aerial duels are a minor flaw. Critics analyzed his Champions League final performance and praised his energy and ability to “run at defenders relentlessly,” making him a big-game player.

Hakimi’s records and achievements

Hakimi’s trophy cabinet and accolades at 26 are staggering: for clubs, he won the UEFA Champions League (2017/18 with Real Madrid, 2024/25 with PSG), Serie A (2020/21 with Inter), Ligue 1 (2021/22, 2d022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 with PSG), DFL-Supercup (2019 with Dortmund), Trophée des Champions (2021, 2024), Coupe de France (2024/25), FIFA Club World Cup (2017), UEFA Super Cup (2017). on the international stage, he finished the 2022 FIFA World Cup in fourth place, and as a captain won an Olympic bronze medal for football in 2024.

Individually, Hakimi was Ligue 1 Team of the Season (2024/25), UEFA Champions League Team of the Season (2024/25), IFFHS Men’s World Team (2022), RFI Marc-Vivien Foé Award favorite (2025), African Footballer of the Year nominee and runner up (2024), Bundesliga Team of the Season (2019/20). Youngest Moroccan international debutant (17 years, 342 days), first player to score against a former club in a Champions League final (2025), second African to win the Champions League with two clubs (after Samuel Eto’o), most expensive African player in 2022 (€80 million).

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Hakimi’s path to greatness

Hakimi’s journey to becoming the world’s best defender was not without challenges. His limited role at Real Madrid forced a bold move to Dortmund, where Lucien Favre’s wing-back system unlocked his potential. At Inter, Conte’s tactical demands exposed early challenges, but Hakimi adapted, becoming a Serie A champion. At PSG, Luis Enrique’s coaching refined his defensive fundamentals, with critics noting his improved “defensive work rate” in 2024/25. His Moroccan heritage fueled his ambition, with fans on social media emphasizing his “heart and impact” during Morocco’s 2022 World Cup run despite an elongation injury.

Hakimi’s claim as the world’s best defender rests on his ability to combine attacking output with defensive reliability. Unlike Trent Alexander-Arnold (3rd in Score 90’s 2024/25 rankings) or Jules Koundé (2nd), Hakimi’s 19 goal involvements in 2024/25 dwarf other right-backs, with Alexander-Arnold’s 15 assists and Koundé’s 3 goals trailing. His 7.49 rating against Aston Villa and 7.34 average in the Champions League shows his consistency.

His big-game performances: scoring in a World Cup knockout match, Olympic bronze-medal game, and Champions League final, set him apart. Critics notes, Hakimi’s “supreme display” against Inter and his status as the second African to win the Champions League with two clubs (after Eto’o) elevate him among Africa’s greats, rivaling Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen for the 2025 CAF African Footballer of the Year award.

Conclusion

While the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is ongoing with PSG now in the round of 16, his focus remains on adding to his trophy haul. Posts on social media, call him PSG’s “leader” and lament how the media still ignores him despite his stellar season, while others rank him as the undisputed top right-back. At 26, with a contract until 2029, Hakimi’s prime years promise further dominance, potentially challenging for the Ballon d’Or, as fans on social media advocate.

From Getafe’s streets to Munich’s Allianz Arena and now the 2025 Club World Cup, Achraf Hakimi’s rise is a story of talent, resilience, and cultural pride. His 10 goals, 12 assists, and defensive mastery in 2024/25, coupled with a trophy-laden career and record-breaking feats, makes him the world’s best defender, a Moroccan magician rewriting football history.