Achraf Hakimi Biography: From Getafe’s Streets to the World’s Best Right-Back

Achraf Hakimi biography begins in Getafe, a working-class town south of Madrid. His mother cleaned houses. His father was a street vendor. They had moved from Morocco to Spain looking for a better future. And their son became the best right-back in the world.

Hakimi was born on November 4, 1998, in Madrid, to Moroccan parents . He grew up in Getafe, and from the age of eight, he was part of Real Madrid‘s academy. He spent 11 years at Valdebebas, climbing every step from the youth teams to the first team .

But the road was not easy. His family was not wealthy. His mother worked cleaning houses. His father sold goods on the street. Hakimi remembered: “My parents sacrificed a lot for me. They wanted us to want for nothing” .

That humility shaped him. And it still defines him.

The Real Madrid Years: Zidane’s Gamble

Hakimi made his Real Madrid debut in 2017, under Zinedine Zidane. The Frenchman trusted him in a league match against Espanyol. He played nine league games that season, scored two goals, and was part of the squad that won the Champions League .

But playing time was limited. Dani Carvajal was ahead of him. Hakimi needed to play. So Real Madrid loaned him to Borussia Dortmund in 2018 .

It was the best decision of his career.

Dortmund: The Explosion

In two seasons in Germany, Hakimi became one of the most exciting full-backs in Europe. He scored 12 goals and provided 17 assists in 73 matches . For a right-back, those numbers were absurd.

He was fast. He was direct. He was fearless. Dortmund gave him the platform, and he took it.

Inter Milan came calling in 2020. He signed a five-year deal and won Serie A in his only season in Italy, Inter’s first league title in 11 years . He scored seven goals in 45 matches.

Then PSG came.

PSG: The Making of a Legend

PSG signed Hakimi in July 2021 for around €60 million, making him one of th

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e most expensive full-backs in history .

At first, he was part of a project. Then he became the project.

In 2024/25, PSG won the Champions League for the first time in their history. Hakimi scored in the final against Inter Milan. He became the first Moroccan to score in a Champions League final . PSG won the treble: Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the Champions League.

In 2025/26, they did it again. Back-to-back Champions League titles. Back-to-back European crowns. Hakimi was at the heart of both .

Luis Enrique called him “the best right-back in the world” . And he was not exaggerating.

The Hat-Trick: A Defender Doing the Impossible

On October 30, 2026, Hakimi did something no defender should be able to do. Against Le Havre in Ligue 1, he scored a hat-trick and provided two assists. He was involved in all five of PSG’s goals in a 5-1 win .

It was the first hat-trick of his career. And it came from right-back.

“It’s an amazing thing for a full-back!” Hakimi said afterwards. “The coach has helped me a lot, and given me the freedom to exploit the spaces and push forward” .

Luis Enrique was not surprised. “He is an attacker, in fact he sometimes pushes forward more than the other attackers,” he said. “His three goals do not excite me as much as it pleases me to see him deliver consistent performances at the highest level” .

That is the standard Hakimi has set. Goals are nice. Consistency is better.

Morocco: The Captain Who Carried a Nation

Hakimi debuted for Morocco in October 2016 . Since then, he has become the captain, the leader, and the symbol of a generation.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Morocco became the first African team to reach the semi-final. Hakimi was at the heart of it. In the round of 16, he scored the decisive penalty that knocked out Spain — the country of his birth .

“I’d like to win something for Morocco,” he said. “When you win something for your country, it’s a special feeling” .

He has more than 100 caps. He has played in three World Cups. And in June 2026, he became the most capped African player in World Cup history, surpassing François Omam-Biyik and Asamoah Gyan with his 12th appearance .

In 2025, he was named CAF African Player of the Year, beating Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen to the award .

The Controversy

In February 2023, a woman accused Hakimi of rape at his home in Boulogne-Billancourt, west of Paris. He was charged with rape on March 2, 2023 .

Hakimi has consistently denied the allegations. “I have nothing to hide,” he said in a statement. “I have fully cooperated with the police and judicial authorities and will continue to do so” .

In February 2026, an investigating judge ordered him to stand trial. In June 2026, the Court of Appeal of Versailles rejected his appeal. In September 2026, the Court of Cassation, France’s highest court, dismissed his final appeal .

A trial will be held in the criminal court of the Hauts-de-Seine department, west of Paris. It could take place next year. Hakimi has said he is “eagerly awaiting” the trial. “Finally, I will be able to speak,” he wrote on social media .

PSG released a statement in March 2023 saying the club “supports the player who has firmly denied the accusations and trusts the justice system” .

My Take: The Street Vendor’s Son Became the Best in the World

Everyone will talk about the hat-trick. The Champions League titles. The African Player of the Year award. The World Cup record.

But the real story of this Achraf Hakimi biography is the sacrifice.

His mother cleaned houses. His father sold goods on the street. They left Morocco so their children could have a future. And their son became the best right-back in the world.

Hakimi has never forgotten it. He is a UNICEF ambassador for children’s rights. He launched the Achraf Hakimi Foundation in 2023 to help disadvantaged children . He gives back because he knows what it is like to have nothing.

He is 27 years old. He has won three Champions League titles, seven league titles, and the CAF African Player of the Year award. He is PSG’s captain when Marquinhos is absent. He is Morocco’s captain always.

And he is still the boy from Getafe, the son of a street vendor, who played football because it was the only way out.

The trial is still pending. The allegations are serious. But whatever happens in that courtroom, Hakimi’s journey from the streets of Getafe to the top of world football is a story that cannot be erased.

FAQs

Where was Achraf Hakimi born?

Madrid, Spain, on November 4, 1998, to Moroccan parents .

When did Hakimi join PSG?

July 2021, for around €60 million .

How many Champions League titles has Hakimi won?

Three: 2018 with Real Madrid, 2025 and 2026 with PSG .

Did Hakimi score a hat-trick?

Yes. On October 30, 2026, he scored three goals and provided two assists against Le Havre in Ligue 1 .

What World Cup record does Hakimi hold?

He became the most capped African player in World Cup history in June 2026, with his 12th appearance .

What is the rape case about?

A woman accused Hakimi of rape at his home in February 2023. He has denied the allegations. A French court has ordered him to stand trial, and his final appeal was dismissed in September 2026 .