Hakimi Makes Strong Case for 2025 Ballon d’Or After Record-Breaking Season

Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi has boldly declared that he deserves to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, insisting that his remarkable achievements this season cannot be ignored simply because he plays in defence.

The 26-year-old Moroccan made Champions League history by becoming the first defender to score in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final of the same campaign. His season’s tally of 11 goals and 16 assists across all competitions also smashed Dani Alves’ long-standing European record for a defender.

Speaking to Canal+, Hakimi admitted that being mentioned in the Ballon d’Or conversation was beyond what he once imagined:

“When people put me in the Ballon d’Or debate, it’s a dream I had never thought of. If I have the possibility of winning it, I think I deserve it too.”

Hakimi’s brilliance was key to PSG’s trophy-laden season, as the club clinched Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Champions League, and Trophée des Champions titles.

Opinion:
The Ballon d’Or has long been a striker’s playground, with defenders rarely getting a fair shot. In fact, only one pure defender — Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 — has lifted the award in modern history. But if football is truly about influence on the pitch, then Hakimi’s campaign is impossible to overlook.

Not only did he rewrite the history books, but he also delivered in the biggest matches, proving that defenders can be just as decisive as star forwards. While Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland may dominate headlines, Hakimi’s case is a refreshing reminder that football glory is not just about scoring the most goals — it’s about impact, consistency, and rewriting the limits of your position.

If there was ever a season for a defender to break the mould, 2025 might just be it — and Achraf Hakimi has given the Ballon d’Or voters plenty to think about.