He has known the brilliance of the main European competitions and the golds of the biggest clubs, from Real Madrid to Paris Saint-Germain, via Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan.
But "playing for Morocco is different".
"Achieving something big with your country is better than with your club. When I was young, I saw the last generation that had played in the World Cup, and I dreamed of becoming like them. We deserve to 'write this page of history', Hakimi slipped in a press conference on Thursday, after the 2-1 victory against Canada.
At 24, for his second World Cup, Hakimi is already aware of the challenge.
His "new generation" Morocco climbed to the round of 16 for the first time since 1986. He did so by emerging first from a tough Group F, with Croatia, Belgium and Canada, and by cashing a single goal (the best defense of the tournament, tied with Croatia and Brazil).
But, beyond the sporting issue, this poster between two neighboring countries will have a personal character for the right side of PSG.
"Like a derby"
The son of a housekeeper and a traveling salesman, both Moroccans and living in Spain since the 1980s, Achraf Hakimi was born in Getafe, in the southern suburbs of Madrid, in the Las Margaritas district.
Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi (R) celebrates with his family with the victory against Belgium, during the World Cup, November 27, 2022 in Doha © Fadel Senna / AFP / Archives
"It's a poor, working-class neighborhood where a lot of Moroccans live. It's going to be a special match, it'll be like a derby," Dani Gomez, sports journalist for local media Hora Azulona, told AFP. the soccer player at Santa Margarita Elementary School.
"At Ofigevi (Hakimi's first football club, now defunct, editor's note), that's where he stood out. He was young, small, but he was very fast, and that's why Real Madrid signed him," Gomez recalled.
Passed briefly by the Spanish youth selection, Hakimi quickly noticed that it was not "the right place" for him: "I did not feel at home", he confided Monday in an interview with Marca, Spain's best-selling sports newspaper.
With the Atlas Lions, Hakimi is THE star.
Slightly injured in the hamstrings during the first match against Croatia, the side still managed a cannon start to the World Cup.
Against Canada, he delivered the decisive deep pass to Youssef En-Nesyri (23rd), and he disgusted the opponents with his defensive interventions, until he finished man of the match.
"With Morocco, I have more importance in the game. I don't have the ball anymore, they make me feel comfortable. In Paris, it's different: sometimes I run and I don't receive the ball. Here, they always try to find me, they know the importance that I can have offensively and defensively", he explains in Marca.
Achraf Hakimi in the fight with Croatian midfielder Luka Modric, during the World Cup, November 24, 2022 in Al-Khor © MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP / Archives
to pride
A small indirect spade to his situation at PSG?
Always essential (he has only missed one match this season, against Troyes, and has only been a substitute twice), Hakimi has already scored three goals there this season, including one in the last match before the World Cup, against Auxerre (5-0).
After the breathlessness of the system with three central defenders, the transition to a defense with four, as in selection, revived the Moroccan.
"We realize that it frees our side, especially Hakimi. He finds spaces in this animation," explained PSG coach Christophe Galtier.
Moroccan defender of Paris SG Achraf Hakimi during a Champions League match against Juventus on November 2, 2022 in Turin © FRANCK FIFE / AFP / Archives
For this player who walks on pride, who must be stung to react according to one of his former coaches at AFP, it clicked.
"I who know him more intimately, he came back this year with other intentions, a daily requirement," whispered his friend Kylian Mbappé on September 5, whom he could find in the semi-finals.
First, there is Spain.
Perhaps the most special match in his eyes?
"No, it will be the final," swept Hakimi in Marca.
© 2022 AFP