The Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi ignited controversy in French sports circles after his bold statements during an interview with Canal+, where he affirmed that he sees himself deserving of winning the Ballon d'Or if given the opportunity, which sparked widespread reactions within his club Paris Saint-Germain.

Hakimi, who is included in the list of the final thirty candidates for the award, said: "When people place me in the Ballon d'Or discussion, it’s a dream I never thought of before. If I have the chance to win it, I believe I deserve it too."

The French newspaper L'Équipe reported that these statements caused a chill in the team's dressing room, and that the Paris Saint-Germain management unsuccessfully attempted to edit this part of the conversation before it aired, while the club denied any interference, confirming that its players are focused on preparing for the European Super Cup match against Tottenham this Wednesday.

The newspaper added that the club was concerned about the impact of these statements on the internal communication approach, especially with Ousmane Dembélé being presented as the main face in the Ballon d'Or race.

It is worth noting that Paris Saint-Germain achieved an unprecedented feat this year, becoming the first club in history to have nine players simultaneously included in the list of thirty candidates for the Ballon d'Or.