"What a player, this Hakimi!": Haaland raves after the Moroccan's masterclass against Arsenal!

The clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal on Wednesday night was lit up by an XXL performance from Achraf Hakimi.

The Moroccan full-back dazzled under the lights at the Parc des Princes, delivering a complete performance that won over both the fans and the international press. As the true engine of PSG, he played a pivotal role in his team's historic qualification for the Champions League final—the second in their history.

Hakimi put the result beyond doubt in the 72nd minute, sealing a 2-1 victory for the Parisians and punching their ticket to Europe's grandest stage. His influence was felt at both ends of the pitch, showing total commitment both defensively and going forward.

At the final whistle, UEFA deservedly named him Man of the Match, praising "a rock-solid performance, capped by a stunning goal," according to the technical committee's report.

The most memorable reactions after Hakimi's performance

Among the many impressed observers, Martin Keown, former Arsenal defender and England international, praised PSG's level of play—especially Hakimi's. On the TNT Sports set, he declared:

"You have to take your hat off to Paris Saint-Germain… Hakimi, what a player!"

But the most notable reaction came from Erling Haaland, Manchester City superstar and Hakimi's former teammate at Borussia Dortmund. The Norwegian posted a story on Snapchat with a simple but heartfelt message: "What a player, Hakimi!"

Also read: Three reasons why Achraf Hakimi is the favorite for the 2025 Foé Trophy!

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.