Hervé Renard praises Achraf Hakimi for his stellar season, backing him for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, highlighting his influence and consistency at PSG.

In a striking endorsement, the French coach Hervé Renard has once again highlighted the exceptional worth of the Moroccan football star. Renard, the current manager of the Saudi national team and former coach of Morocco, voiced his opinion regarding his preferred candidate for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, choosing the Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi over French teammate Ousmane Dembélé from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

This season, Hakimi and Dembélé have been in scintillating form at PSG, significantly contributing to the team's domestic and continental triumphs under the leadership of coach Luis Enrique. Their performances have positioned them as strong contenders for the prestigious individual award in world football.

Renard's statement, as reported by the French outlet "Foot Mercato," emphasized:

"Achraf Hakimi is currently one of the best players globally. In my view, he deserves the Ballon d'Or this season. His performance has been exceptional, consistent, and decisive in every match he played." Renard further noted the importance of recognizing the role of defenders in major awards, affirming that Hakimi's season-long influence surpasses in continuity and decisiveness, despite the impressive displays by both Dembélé and the Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal.

Renard's comments have once again shone a light on the Moroccan star, who has established himself as one of the world's leading full-backs. This could potentially lead to the rare nomination of an Arab defender in the final Ballon d'Or shortlist, a testament to Hakimi's outstanding season.