Ballon d'Or 2025: Achraf Hakimi feels he 'deserves' award after 'historic' season with UEFA Champions League-winning PSG
Updated 11/08/2025 at 09:51 GMT+1
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Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi said being in the conversation for the 2025 Ballon d'Or is a "dream" he never anticipated, but in light of last season's statistics, he feels he is a deserved candidate for the award. Hakimi was included as one of nine Paris Saint-Germain players on the 30-player shortlist for the men's Ballon d'Or, which will be awarded in Paris on September 22.
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Achraf Hakimi said he "deserves" to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or after a "historic" season in which he helped Paris Saint-Germain to both UEFA Champions League and Ligue 1 glory.
Hakimi, 26, has been a pivotal figure for the Parisians since joining from Inter in 2021, but enjoyed his finest season to date in PSG colours last season as he notched 11 goals and 16 assists from right-back in 55 appearances for Luis Enrique's side.
Alongside winning the French top-flight and helping claim PSG's maiden Champions League title by a record margin in the final, Hakimi was also a key part of the team which won the Coupe de France, completing a remarkable treble.
"When people put me in the Ballon d'Or debate, it's a dream I never thought about," Hakimi said in an interview with Canal+. "If I have the chance to win it, I think I deserve it too."
Hakimi only seemed to grow in stature as Enrique's side progressed through the Champions League, and made some vital attacking contributions in the latter stages of the tournament.
That included an ultimately crucial goal to help PSG towards a 5-4 aggregate victory over Aston Villa in the quarter-final, before also hitting the net in the two-legged 3-1 semi-final victory over Arsenal and in the record 5-0 final victory over Inter.
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Hakimi added: "After the historic season I had - there aren't many players who have scored in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final - while it's more difficult as a defender.
"People think I'm a striker or a midfielder, but no, I play in a line of four, and I have to think about defending.
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"The statistics I've had this year are not those of a normal defender. I think when a defender does that, he deserves more than a striker."
After emerging as one of nine PSG players on the shortlist for the men's Ballon d'Or - a record number for the representation of a single club - Hakimi will battle the likes of team-mates Ousmane Dembele, Vitinha and Nuno Mendes for the award.
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The trophy will be presented at the Ballon d'Or ceremony, taking place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on September 22.
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