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Morocco captain tips Hakimi for Ballon d'Or award

Morocco captain tips Hakimi for Ballon d'Or award

Folahan Guerreiro

AUG 5, 2025

Captain of the Moroccan National team, Romain Paul Saïss, has backed his International teammate Achraf Hakimi to win the Ballon d'Or award.

The Paris Saint-Germain right-back was outstanding for Luis Henrique's side throughout the 2024/2025 campaign that saw Le Parisien win the French Ligue 1, Coupe de La Ligue, and the UEFA Champions League as they thumped Inter Milan in the final.

Hakimi scored 11 goals and provided 14 assists in 55 games for Paris Saint-Germain and is a front-runner for the CAF Player of the Year Award alongside Mohammed Salah and Victor Osimhen.

Achraf Hakimi and Romain Saïss in action for the Morocco National team — Achraf Hakimi and Romain Saïss in action for the Morocco National team. (Photo/ IMAGO)

Saïss accrued over 100 Premier League appearances during his time with Wolverhampton Wanderers and has backed Hakimi to be crowned the best player in the world.

"He is an exceptional player who is very likely to win the Ballon d'Or. I hope he wins it,” the 35-year-old said in quotes revealed by Lesite.

Can Hakimi win the Ballon d'Or?

The former Borussia Dortmund defender certainly has a fair shout, scoring in the semi-final and the final of the UEFA Champions League, all the way from the back is no easy feat.

However, his teammate, Ousmane Dembele, has the optics in his bag. The Frenchman enjoyed the peak of his career last season, scoring 35 goals and providing 14 assists in 54 games across all competitions for Paris Saint-Germain.

Achraf Hakimi in action for Paris Saint-Germain — Achraf Hakimi in action for Paris Saint-Germain. (Photo/ IMAGO).

Barcelona's Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, alongside Liverpool's Mo Salah, all have fair shouts, but it'll be widely expected that Hakimi topples them in the rankings, considering the Moroccan lifted the UEFA Champions League title.

Nuno Mendes, Vitinha and João Neves are projected to be a part of the awards top-listed players because of their excellence with their club and in the UEFA Nations League.

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