Achraf Hakimi has joined an elite group in African football history after winning his third UEFA Champions League title, equalling the record set by Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o.
The Moroccan defender achieved the milestone following Paris Saint-Germain’s victory over Arsenal in the 2025/26 Champions League final, a result that secured back-to-back European titles for the French club.
At 27, Hakimi now shares the distinction of being the African player with the most Champions League winners’ medals, matching Eto’o’s three triumphs across his spells with Barcelona in 2006 and 2009 and Inter Milan in 2010.
Hakimi’s latest success also mirrors another of Eto’o’s achievements, as he becomes part of the select group of African players to have won consecutive Champions League titles. The right-back previously lifted the trophy with Real Madrid in 2018, adding to his growing list of European honours.
The PSG defender reflected on the difficulty of maintaining success at the highest level, particularly in successive seasons, while praising the influence of head coach Luis Enrique in guiding the team.
“It’s not easy to do it back to back, but we did. I say every time the same, the coach is the big voice of the club. We follow him, we trust in him,” Hakimi said in the post match interview.
He went on to highlight the importance of unity within the squad, crediting the manager with fostering a strong collective spirit throughout the campaign.
“Since day one he told us the team is more important than the player. “We are really happy to have him. We have created not just a team but a family.”
Hakimi’s achievement further strengthens his standing as one of Africa’s most decorated modern footballers, with his success at club level now placing him alongside some of the continent’s greatest names in the sport.
Beyond club football, attention is also turning to his international role with Morocco as the team prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hakimi is expected to lead the side as captain, bringing experience from his recent European triumphs into a squad aiming to make an impact on the global stage.
Morocco will begin their World Cup campaign in Group C, facing Brazil on 14 June before matches against Scotland on 20 June and Haiti on 25 June. Expectations are high that the team can progress deep into the tournament, with Hakimi’s leadership seen as a key factor in their ambitions.
For now, however, the spotlight remains on his historic Champions League success, which has placed him level with Eto’o in one of African football’s most prestigious records. PSG’s victory over Arsenal not only secured European glory for the club but also etched Hakimi’s name further into the history books of the competition.
