Hakimi's comments on Messi resurface

Achraf Hakimi, the Moroccan player of Paris Saint-Germain, has once again commented on the impact of Argentine Lionel Messi joining the French team, as the Portuguese newspaper "A Bola" has highlighted the difficulties the Moroccan full-back faced in adapting to the presence of the Argentine star within the ranks of the Parisian club.

Achraf Hakimi spoke about his experience during his appearance in April 2026 on "The Bridge", hosted by Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, alongside Kylian Mbappé and comedian Malik Ben Talha. He recalled details of his first season with Paris Saint-Germain and the tactical changes that occurred in his role following Lionel Messi's arrival from FC Barcelona in August 2021.

Achraf Hakimi spoke about his start with the French team: "My first season in Paris was very difficult. I came from Inter and Borussia Dortmund, and I was a different type of full-back, a player who pushes forward, scores goals, and plays in a team where I have a significant role."

The Moroccan international explained that he expected to continue delivering the same attacking roles he was used to with his previous clubs, despite the presence of Neymar and Mbappé. However, he did not know when he signed that Messi would join the team, which led to a change in playing style and a shift in his responsibilities on the pitch.

He added: "When I signed with Paris Saint-Germain, I didn't know that Messi would join the team, and therefore our style of play became different. With him, I was no longer able to push forward into attack, and I had to stay back. I felt like a young player."

Achraf Hakimi touched on the difference between his role with Paris Saint-Germain and what he offers in the Moroccan national team: "With the national team, I had greater attacking freedom and a clearer impact on the team's performance, which was not available to me to the same extent at the French club due to tactical requirements."

He addressed the criticism he received from some fans regarding his differing performance with the Moroccan national team compared to his play with Paris Saint-Germain, explaining that the nature of the roles required of him in the Parisian team limited his ability to express his attacking potential in the way he was accustomed to.

Lionel Messi left Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023, after spending two seasons with the team, to move to Inter Miami. Meanwhile, Achraf Hakimi continued his journey in the French capital and became one of the influential attacking elements in the team under the management of Luis Enrique.