From the streets of Rabat to the spotlight: Achraf Hakimi reigns supreme in Africa at the World Cup.
The Moroccan player with the most appearances in the tournament's history
Written by Omnia Hassan
In every World Cup, players emerge who leave their mark, but Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi chose to write his name in gold in the annals of the most important tournament for national teams, after achieving a new historic milestone. Africa During the participation of the Moroccan national team in the 2026 World Cup.
During the Moroccan national team’s match against their Brazilian counterparts, in the first round of Group C in the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Hakimi made an exceptional appearance that made him enter the history of Moroccan and African football in a big way.
The Moroccan player with the most World Cup appearances
By playing against Brazil, Hakimi made his eleventh appearance in the World Cup finals, becoming the most capped Moroccan player in the tournament's history, surpassing his compatriot Hakim Ziyech, whose tally stopped at 10 matches.
This figure reflects the consistency enjoyed by the Moroccan right-back, who has become one of the most prominent stars of world football thanks to his outstanding performances with clubs and the national team.
historic African record
Hakimi’s achievement did not stop at the borders of Moroccan football, as he equaled the record for the most appearances by African players in the World Cup, with 11 matches, equaling the record of the two legends of the African continent, Cameroonian Francois Omam-Biyik and Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan, according to data from the “Transfermarkt” website.
The Paris Saint-Germain star is now just one game away from breaking the African record, confirming his status as one of the continent's most prominent stars in the modern era.
A journey that began in Russia and blossomed in Qatar
Hakimi's World Cup journey began during the 2018 Russia edition, where he participated in three matches with the Atlas Lions. Despite the Moroccan national team's elimination in the first round, the young player impressed with his considerable talent.
The most outstanding moment of brilliance came in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, when he participated in all seven of Morocco’s matches, and contributed to the historic achievement of the team reaching the semi-finals, becoming the first Arab and African team to achieve this feat.
A star who never stops making history
Hakimi, who recently won the Champions League title with Paris Saint-Germain, continues to write new chapters of glory, confirming that his journey from the stadiums of Rabat to the biggest stages of world football was just the beginning of an exceptional career that made him one of the most prominent stars of his generation in Africa and the world.
