Belaïli: Hakimi’s African Ballon d'Or triumph is deserved!

Belaïli congratulates Hakimi and confirms he deserves the African Ballon d'Or

Belaili & hakimi / @lequipe.fr

Algerian international Youcef Belaïli, playmaker for Espérance Sportive de Tunis, stated that the coronation of Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi, right-back for Paris Saint-Germain, as the 2025 African Ballon d'Or winner is fully deserved, emphasizing that this accolade was not a matter of chance, but the result of immense hard work.

Belaïli congratulates Hakimi and confirms he deserves the African Ballon d'Or

Forced to end his season early due to a torn cruciate ligament, Belaïli spoke on the YouTube show LA SURFACE. He made a point to highlight the Moroccan’s outstanding performance this year.

He stated:

"Who deserves the African Ballon d'Or? It's Hakimi—he did it all this year, he won every trophy. He deserves it. Allah ybarek."

Achraf Hakimi’s triumph was made official during a prestigious ceremony held in Rabat a few days ago, attended by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and CAF president Patrice Motsepe.

During the 2024–2025 season, Hakimi established himself as one of Paris Saint-Germain’s key players. He played a decisive role in securing the club’s first-ever Champions League title, while also contributing to their domestic double (Ligue 1 and Coupe de France) and victory in the UEFA Super Cup.

With this award, Hakimi puts an end to two years of frustration, after finishing as runner-up in 2023 and 2024. In 2025, he finally claims the top spot, with brilliance and legitimacy.