Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi backed to win Ballon d'Or ahead of Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele - 'Best player on the continent'
Published 20/07/2025 at 19:16 GMT+1
While Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal are considered the frontrunners to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or, others have given their backing to less fancied contenders. Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi has been described as "the best player on the continent" after a superb season with the French club. The full-back was instrumental for Luis Enrique's side as they won a first UEFA Champions League.
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Achraf Hakimi has been backed to win the Ballon d'Or after helping Paris Saint-Germain to a first UEFA Champions League title last season.
The 26-year-old right-back was a star performer for Luis Enrique's side, scoring the opening goal in the 5-0 final victory over Internazionale.
PSG team-mate Ousmane Dembele is the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or, ahead of Barcelona star Lamine Yamal.
But former Morocco manager Herve Renard, who gave Hakimi his international debut in 2016, has insisted the ex-Real Madrid star would be a worthy winner of football's most prestigious individual award.
"He is one of the best players in the world today. For me, he is the Ballon d’Or of this season because he has been exceptional, consistent, and decisive in all his performances," Renard told Morocco Worldwide News.
"His evolution has been exceptional. From Dortmund to Inter Milan, then to Paris Saint-Germain, he has only joined great clubs, which fully reflects his talent.
"Today, Achraf Hakimi is the best player on the continent. And given his young age, he is far from done adding to his list of achievements."
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Hakimi has excelled since joining PSG from Inter in 2021, helping his side to four successive Ligue 1 titles and starring for Morocco in their run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals.
He impressed again at the FIFA Club World Cup this summer as PSG reached the final, before losing to Chelsea.
"They let me do what I like to do, play and have fun," Hakimi said after a 4-0 win over Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
"With this coach who gave me his trust and the freedom to play in midfield from time to time, but also to defend. The truth is that I'm very happy and I'm having fun with this team."
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'He's transformed them'
While Hakimi is an outsider for the Ballon d'Or, PSG forward Dembele is the bookies' favourite.
He has been backed by former Real Madrid and Wales winger Gareth Bale to win the award.
"Yeah, I think so [that Dembele is the favourite to win the individual honour]," Bale told ESPN.
"I think you also have to look what the teams have won.
"I think everyone obviously talks about individuals, but I think if you are winning those trophies as well, you're winning the Champions League, obviously they've won their domestic treble.
"It's hard to see anyone else from the season he's had, and he's transformed them into trophies as well as the season he's had.
"It does make him the front-runner by some way in my opinion."
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