Decisive in both penalty areas and scoring at a crucial moment, Achraf Hakimi was one of the key architects of Paris Saint-Germain’s qualification for the Champions League final. Against Arsenal, the Moroccan full-back delivered a masterful performance, capped off by a superb goal in the 72nd minute that sealed PSG’s victory (2-1, 3-1 on aggregate). It was a clear-cut action: an incursion into the box, a perfectly executed one-two with Dembélé, and a low shot from just outside the six-yard box to beat Raya. Unstoppable in his forward runs and precise in his defensive recoveries, Hakimi simply lit up the Parc des Princes.
At the final whistle, the former Inter player expressed his joy to Canal+. “Yes, it’s incredible. You see the atmosphere, the supporters… We’ve worked hard for this moment. Many didn’t believe in us, but we are a team, a family. We deserve this moment.” A family of which Luis Enrique is “the father,” according to the player’s words, praising “a genius” who has managed to shape a united and conquering collective. Now looking ahead to the final against Inter, a particularly special encounter for the Moroccan, Hakimi prefers to savor the moment before thinking about what comes next: “We’re going to celebrate among ourselves, among family. We deserve all of this.” In a historic European evening, Hakimi did not just score a goal: he made an impression.