Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele have emerged as frontrunners for the 2025 Ballon d’Or after spectacular seasons that delivered multiple trophies. But Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi believes another contender deserves the honor.
With the nominee list released last Thursday, Hakimi was among the 30 players recognized for the award following a stellar campaign with PSG. The Moroccan right back helped the club secure four trophies, including the coveted UEFA Champions League title. And among the nominees, he sees one name in particular worthy of the sport’s top individual prize.
Speaking to Canal+ France, Hakimi reflected on his inclusion: “Being mentioned as a possible Ballon d’Or winner is something I’ve always dreamed of. If I were to win it, I think it would be deserved. I’ve had a historic season: few defenders have scored in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final of the Champions League. Sometimes people see me as an attacker, but I play as a defender in a back four, which makes it more difficult.“
Hakimi went on to highlight the extra challenge of competing for the award as a defender. “The numbers I’ve achieved aren’t common for someone in my position, and when a player at the back delivers that kind of performance, I believe the merit is even greater than that of a forward,” he candidly stated.
In 2024-25, Hakimi tallied 11 goals and 16 assists in 55 appearances while anchoring Luis Enrique’s back line. Surrounded by world-class talent—eight of his PSG teammates, including Dembele, also made the shortlist—the 26-year-old is confident he belongs in the conversation to claim the award.
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Has a defender ever won the Ballon d’Or?
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, organized by France Football, will be held Monday, September 22, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. While Hakimi believes his season merits recognition, defenders rarely claim the award in a forward-dominated era.
Only three defenders in history have lifted the Ballon d’Or. Franz Beckenbauer was the first, edging teammate Gerd Müller in 1972 after winning the European Championship with West Germany, and repeating the feat in 1976. Matthias Sammer followed in 1996 after leading Germany to another EURO title, finishing ahead of Ronaldo Nazário and Alan Shearer.
The last was Fabio Cannavaro, who claimed the 2006 Ballon d’Or after captaining Italy to World Cup glory—beating out France legend Thierry Henry. Despite all of them were center backs, this sets an antecedent that makes Hakimi believe he can claim the award.
