Historic: a PSG player wins the Marc-Vivien Foé award

On Monday, May 12, RFI and France 24 officially awarded the 2025 Marc-Vivien Foé award to Achraf Hakimi. The Moroccan international defender for PSG has been crowned the best African player of the 2024/2025 Ligue 1 season in France. He clinched the award ahead of Ivorian Evann Guessand (2nd) and Senegalese Habib Diarra (3rd).

Achraf Hakimi, the first African PSG player to win the Marc-Vivien Foé award

Since its inception in 2009, no African player from Paris Saint-Germain had ever won this trophy, which annually honors the best African player in Ligue 1. Achraf Hakimi has broken the mold, becoming the first African player from the Parisian club to earn this distinction. With a commanding 97.5% of the votes, he left his rivals far behind—Evann Guessand of Nice and Habib Diarra of Strasbourg. The Moroccan succeeds Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who took home the award in 2024.

"It’s an honor for me to join the circle of great players who have won this award," Hakimi stated as he received the Marc-Vivien Foé trophy.

Hakimi, the fourth Moroccan to win the award after Marouane Chamakh and Sofiane Boufal

Achraf Hakimi joins the exclusive club of Moroccan players who have claimed the Marc-Vivien Foé award, alongside Marouane Chamakh, who won in 2009 with Bordeaux, Younès Belhanda, winner in 2012 with Montpellier HSC, and Sofiane Boufal, crowned in 2016 with Lille. With 4 goals and 6 assists in 24 Ligue 1 matches this season, PSG’s vice-captain is increasingly recognized among the world’s top full-backs.

"He’s better defensively, focused and more efficient. He’s one of those young players who already have experience, a real reference for his teammates," confirmed PSG coach Luis Enrique.

Lydiane N'Po |

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Sports journalist specializing in African football, covering football news, exclusive stories and digital content for passionate fans of the game.