9 Interesting Facts About Achraf Hakimi From His Youth Days
- Think Football Ideas
- Jun 5
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 6
Full name: Achraf Hakimi Mouh
Date of birth: 4 November 1998
Place of birth: Madrid, Spain
Height: 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s): Right-back
Current Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Jersey Number: 2
Before you assume you know his story, pause. Achraf Hakimi might be everywhere right now, Champions League nights, viral highlights, the occasional front page, but the full picture? It’s still unfolding.
This is a player who's been around, sure, but whose narrative is far from over. He's fast (ridiculously so), talented (no debate there), and layered with moments, moves, and milestones that most fans still haven’t clocked. So buckle in, because the facts behind Hakimi aren’t just impressive, they’re surprising.
Below Are 9 Interesting Facts About Achraf Hakimi From Childhood
1. He is of Moroccan Heritage Via His Parents, Mohamed And Saida
Achraf Hakimi might’ve been born in Madrid on November 4, 1998, but his roots run deep into the red sands of Morocco. His parents, Mohamed and Saida, emigrated from North Africa with grit and hustle, holding the family together.
It wasn’t a lavish upbringing, far from it, but rich in ambition, culture, and that unmistakable Moroccan pride. That pride? It never left him. It showed in every international call-up, in every heartfelt goal celebration for Morocco.
2. His Football Career Started At Colonia Ofigevi Before Joining Real Madrid's Academy
Before Real Madrid scouts started circling, Achraf kicked off his career at a modest club called Colonia Ofigevi at eight years old. This wasn’t some top-tier football academy, but the spark he had? It burned bright.
Real Madrid noticed, and in 2006, he stepped into La Fábrica, the club’s fabled youth academy. Imagine going from local kid playing for fun to training at Valdebebas with future world-beaters. But that’s where it all clicked, the speed, the drive, the hunger.
3. He Was A Winger Before Transitioning Into A Right-Back
Here’s the twist in the Hakimi origin story: he started as a winger. Yes, blistering down the flanks, eyes on goal, crosses whipping in. It wasn’t until the Los Blancos coaches saw something else, his defensive awareness, his stamina, his ability to track back like a man possessed, that they said, “Kid, you’re a full-back now.”
And that's how he was reinvented. But not in a dull, defensive way. No, he became the prototype of the modern full-back, fast, fearless, and still as attacking as ever. From winger to right-back to wing-back... It’s like watching a Marvel hero find his final form.
4. He Was Loaned To Borussia Dortmund Before Signing For Inter Milan
In 2018, Real Madrid decided Hakimi needed seasoning, and what better club to do that than Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund?
The two-year loan was helped him develop. He bagged goals, assists, and even broke records (more on that later). But perhaps the best thing? He thrived in the Bundesliga's fast-paced chaos.
Then came 2020. Inter Milan, coached by the tactical beast Antonio Conte, snatched him for around €40 million. Italy got the full Hakimi experience: overlapping runs, unstoppable sprints, and a Scudetto by season’s end.
5. A Football Stadium in Ksar El-Kebir, Morocco, Was Named After Hakimi
Okay, how’s this for poetic justice? After Morocco’s historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup (yes, first African nation ever), the town of Ksar el-Kebir didn’t just throw a parade, they named a stadium in North-western Morocco after Hakimi.
In a world where statues and naming rights are usually reserved for retired legends, Hakimi received the honour at just 24. It showed how deeply his impact runs in Moroccan hearts. His World Cup heroics weren’t just goals, they were symbols of national pride.
6. He Once Set A Bundesliga Speed Record At 36.48 Km/H
In February 2020, during a match against Union Berlin, Hakimi hit 36.48 km/h, the fastest sprint ever recorded in Bundesliga history. And get this, he broke his previous record of 36.2 km/h. Insane! He wasn’t just quick, he was cheat code quick.
Opponents were left eating dust, fans were double-checking their radar guns, and even video game developers probably said, “Yeah, we've got to bump his pace rating.” When you’re this fast, you don’t chase the game, the game chases you.
7. His First Ligue 1 Red Card Was A Few Weeks After His PSG Debut
Ah yes, the classic Parisian welcome: fireworks, goal on debut, and... a red card just weeks later. After signing with PSG on 6 July 2021, Hakimi lit up Ligue 1 immediately, scoring in his debut on August 7 against Troyes.
But by August 24, during a tense 0–0 draw with arch rivals Marseille, he was shown red. Emotions ran high, fans lost it, and Hakimi got an early shower. It wasn’t the fairytale script, but hey, if you’re not stirring up drama in Le Classique, are you even doing it right?
8. He Was Named Arab Sportsman Of The Year For 2022 At The Joy Awards In Riyadh
2022 was Hakimi’s moment, and the Joy Awards in Riyadh made it official: Arab Sportsman of the Year. Held in January 2023, the glitzy ceremony celebrated cultural icons across the Arab world.
After that unforgettable World Cup run, his penenka penalty against Spain, Morocco’s semi-final miracle, this wasn’t just an award. It was recognition from millions who saw themselves in Hakimi: proud, fearless, and rooted.
9. He Is The First Moroccan To Win Two UCL Titles With Two Different Teams
Achraf Hakimi is the first Moroccan to win two UEFA Champions League titles, and he did it with two different clubs, which just cranks the history meter to eleven. His first came with Real Madrid in the 2017–18 season.
Fast forward to May 31, 2025, and he did it again, this time with PSG, who absolutely dismantled Inter Milan 5–0 in the final.
And, guess who opened the scoring? Hakimi. That goal? It made him the first Moroccan to ever score in a Champions League final. History books, meet Achraf.
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