Morocco international Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain star, is on the verge of a historic achievement that could place his name among the greatest African players in Champions League history. After setting up the fourth goal against Barcelona, the Moroccan full-back raised his tally to 19 assists in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
Hakimi delivered a precise cross from the right in the 86th minute, which Fabián Ruiz converted into the Barcelona net, helping Paris Saint-Germain to a 4-2 victory in the third round of the league phase.
With this contribution, Hakimi equalled the tally of Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, who has 19 assists in Champions League history, sharing second place in the list of African players with the most assists in the competition’s history.
One step from the top
The record is no longer far from the ‘Atlas Lion’, as Hakimi needs just one assist to match the tally of Cameroonian legend Samuel Eto’o, who tops the list with 20 assists. If he provides two more assists, he will stand alone at the top and become the African player with the most assists in Champions League history.
These numbers reflect Hakimi’s exceptional ability to influence decisive stages of matches, despite playing as a right-back, a position from which it is not usually expected to compete with world-class strikers in the assists department.
Numbers that put Hakimi at the top
| Rank | Player | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samuel Eto’o | 20 |
| 2 | Mohamed Salah | 19 |
| 2 | Achraf Hakimi | 19 |
Statistics confirm that Hakimi reached Salah’s tally in fewer matches, giving his achievement an extra dimension and reinforcing the argument that he is one of the most offensively influential full-backs in the competition’s history.
A Moroccan and African achievement
Hakimi’s impact is not limited to individual numbers; it also sends a strong message about the presence of Moroccan football on Europe’s highest stages. The 27-year-old continues to shine with Paris Saint-Germain, having helped the French club win the Champions League last season.
With Paris Saint-Germain’s campaign in the current edition ongoing, the opportunity seems open for Hakimi to break the 20-assist barrier and perhaps surpass Eto’o in the coming weeks.
If that happens, Hakimi will not just be a full-back who made history; his name will top an African list that includes Samuel Eto’o and Mohamed Salah, two of the greatest players to have graced African football in recent decades.
