Achraf Hakimi finish 13th for di 2026 Ballon d'Or rankings, one placing wey Goal.com describe as historic achievement for di Morocco defender for di race to be di best player for di world.
Morocco World News report di final position on Monday, 26 October 2026. Di placing no be small thing for a right-back, and beIN Sports describe Hakimi as di most influential Moroccan footballer of him generation.
Di bigger tension dey come from di national team side. When Morocco coach Walid Regragui release him squad for di Africa Cup of Nations, di list carry strong names like Brahim Díaz, Noussair Mazraoui, Azzedine Ounahi, Nayef Aguerd and Eliesse Ben Seghir, but na Hakimi situation everybody bin dey look. Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal no make di list at all.
Di reason na say Hakimi fitness bin dey shake well well. E suffer serious right ankle sprain after Luis Díaz tackle am during Paris Saint-Germain Champions League match against Bayern Munich, and dem carry am comot pitch on him 27th birthday. Medical tests confirm say e go need two weeks wey e no go move di leg at all, followed by at least four weeks rehabilitation, one timeline wey put him chances for di group stage inside serious doubt.
Inside PSG, di concern bin clear. Di club bin hope say e fit recover reach di knockout rounds, but di chance say e go start di tournament no strong at all.
Another development wey concern Hakimi na di Africa Cup of Nations format. CAF don reverse di plan to run di tournament every four years starting 2028, so di competition go continue with di two-year format. SPORTbible note say Hakimi dey among di players wey go benefit from di extra chances to win di trophy.
