‘He does everything well’ — PSG boss praises CAF Player of the Year Hakimi

CAF Player of the Year Achraf Hakimi has earned praise from his Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has heaped praise on Achraf Hakimi despite the defender being sidelined until next year.

The Moroccan star has just been crowned CAF Men’s Player of the Year after a historic treble-winning season with PSG.

Luis Enrique hails Hakimi’s all-round brilliance

Speaking at his Le Havre press conference, Enrique could not hide his admiration for the injured right-back, insisting Hakimi has been operating at an elite level for years.

“I think he played at a very high level. This is my third year here, and he’s been top-notch both defensively and offensively. He’s not just a defender; he does everything well. That’s great for him, and he needs to keep going in this direction,” the PSG manager said.

Enrique also stressed that Hakimi’s value goes beyond individual accolades, noting that the most important factor is influence within the squad.

“We know that what matters is being important to the team, and all the players know that,” he said. Even though Hakimi may not feature again for PSG until next year, the manager’s comments underline how crucial the 27-year-old remains in Paris’ long-term plans.

Hakimi’s CAF POTY triumph crowns a trophy-packed 2024–25 season

Hakimi’s latest honour, being named CAF Men’s Player of the Year, completes an extraordinary 2025 in which he “won literally everything.”

At the Rabat ceremony, he edged Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen to become the first defender in 52 years and the first Moroccan since 1998 to win the award.

His season with PSG was nothing short of remarkable: a Champions League title, Ligue 1 trophy, Coupe de France and UEFA Super Cup all arrived in a single campaign.

In the Champions League alone, Hakimi delivered four goals, including one in the final, along with five assists, showing his decisive influence on the biggest stage. Beyond club football, he captained Morocco during an unbeaten run and played a key role in their 2026 World Cup qualification push.

While Salah dominated in the Premier League and Osimhen shattered scoring records in Turkey, voters ultimately favoured Hakimi’s blend of silverware and direct impact across competitions.