Morocco's presence on football's biggest individual stage continues to grow.
Achraf Hakimi has officially been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, following a remarkable 2025-26 season with both club and country.
France Football revealed the nominees on Tuesday, September 8, with Hakimi leading a strong Moroccan presence across this year's awards.
A Season of Champions
Hakimi enters the race after a season filled with major trophies.
The Paris Saint-Germain captain made 49 appearances, recording four goals and 17 assists across the campaign while helping his club complete a historic run of success.
With PSG, Hakimi lifted the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and French league title.
On the international stage, he added another major achievement by helping Morocco become African champions, further strengthening his case among the world's finest players.
Hakimi Among Football's Elite
The Moroccan full-back finished sixth in last year's Ballon d'Or voting, and his latest nomination confirms his continued presence at the very highest level of the game.
He will compete against some of football's biggest names, including Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Vinícius Júnior, Lionel Messi, Rodri, Bruno Fernandes, and Lautaro Martínez.
Dembélé will return to defend his Ballon d'Or crown, while several of the world's most celebrated stars will once again compete for the game's most prestigious individual prize.
A Proud Moroccan Presence
Hakimi is not the only Moroccan name receiving recognition this year.
Young midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has been nominated for the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young player of the year, while goalkeeper Yassine Bounou is among the nominees for the Yachine Trophy, recognizing the world's best goalkeeper.
The three nominations represent another powerful statement about the quality emerging from Moroccan football.
From Morocco to the World Stage
Hakimi's rise has become one of the defining stories of Moroccan football's modern era.
From representing the Atlas Lions on football's biggest stages to captaining Paris Saint-Germain and competing for the most prestigious individual awards, the Moroccan defender continues to carry his nation's colors with pride wherever his career takes him.
His nomination also reflects the growing recognition of Moroccan football on the global stage, following the national team's historic achievements and the continued emergence of world-class Moroccan talent.
London Awaits
The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place on October 26 in London, marking a change of setting from the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, which has hosted the ceremony since 2019.
For Hakimi, another appearance among the world's elite nominees is already a remarkable achievement.
But with African glory, European glory, and a season of extraordinary individual contribution behind him, the Morocco captain will arrive in London dreaming of taking one more historic step toward football's ultimate individual crown.