Achraf Hakimi's Historic Achievement: First Moroccan to Score in a Champions League Final and Third Arab Player to Do So

Achraf Hakimi's Historic Goal in the Champions League Final

Achraf Hakimi's goal in the 2025 Champions League Final represents a historic moment in Arab and Moroccan football. The Moroccan Paris Saint-Germain star became the first Moroccan player to score in the history of the Champions League final. Moreover, this achievement places him among the elite, as he becomes the third Arab player to achieve this feat, joining Algerian legend Rabah Madjer and Egyptian star Mohamed Salah. Hakimi's goal was not just an individual achievement; it was an integral part of Paris Saint-Germain's crushing 5-0 victory over Inter Milan. This crushing victory represents the largest goal difference in the history of the Champions League final, adding another dimension to the significance of Hakimi's contribution. This double achievement, the first for a Moroccan and the third for an Arab, places Hakimi's achievement in a rich historical context, confirming his status as a pivotal figure in regional and global football.

Achraf Hakimi: The Moment of the Moroccan Maestro

Details of the 2025 Champions League Final Goal

Achraf Hakimi opened the scoring for Paris Saint-Germain in the 12th minute of the 2025 Champions League Final against Inter Milan. This early goal had a significant impact on the course of the match, putting the Parisian team ahead early on with a clean goal. The goal was described as a "brilliant play" that showcased Hakimi's "class and strength," underscoring his technical and physical prowess. The goal was the result of a coordinated and skillful team move by Paris Saint-Germain players. The attack began with a precise pass from Vitinha into the penalty area, where Desiree Douet skillfully received it, then cleverly passed the ball to Hakimi, who slotted it into the empty net. Despite the goal's great significance in Europe's most prestigious club competition, Hakimi chose not to celebrate. This action reflects his deep respect for his former club, Inter Milan, where he spent one season and won the Italian league title. This stance by Hakimi, who prefers to show respect for past ties rather than indulge in momentary joy, indicates a mature and professional sports personality, which reinforces his status as an icon beyond just being a football player. Hakimi's goal directly contributed to Paris Saint-Germain's crushing 5-0 victory over Inter Milan, the largest goal margin in the history of Champions League finals.

Hakimi's role and influence within Paris Saint-Germain

Despite playing as a right-back, Hakimi's goal demonstrated his versatile attacking ability, scoring "like a seasoned striker" after making a "distinctive run into the penalty area from deep." This offensive contribution is no mere coincidence. Rather, it is an essential part of the tactical system implemented by coach Luis Enrique at Paris Saint-Germain. This system emphasizes a collective effort, requiring "everyone to attack and everyone to defend together," and gives full-backs like Hakimi the "freedom to advance" and roam freely in the final third of the pitch. Hakimi's tactical flexibility, and his ability to transition effectively from defense to attack, reflects the evolution of modern football, where traditional boundaries between positions are blurring and players are expected to contribute in all phases of play. His "endless" energy is essential to his consistent contributions on both ends of the pitch.

Overall Performance in the 2025 UEFA Champions League Campaign

Hakimi's impact extended beyond the final. Throughout the entire 2025 UEFA Champions League campaign, his contributions were exceptional, with four goals and five assists. These numbers exceed those of any other defender in the tournament, placing him third among all players in terms of assists, underscoring his significant attacking influence. Hakimi demonstrated a remarkable ability to score in crucial moments, scoring in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final itself, in addition to scoring in the Coupe de France final. For the entire 2025 season, Hakimi contributed nine goals and 14 assists in all competitions for Paris Saint-Germain. His agent, Alejandro Camano, revealed that Hakimi's decision to leave Real Madrid was driven by a "need for regular playing time," a turning point that led him to shine at Paris Saint-Germain and lift the Champions League trophy. This strategic decision in Hakimi's career, prioritizing consistent playing time over remaining at a major global club, directly contributed to his development into a world-class talent and two-time Champions League winner. This highlights the critical importance of playing time for young players, even those with tremendous potential, to reach their full potential and reach peak performance.

First among Moroccans: A National Achievement

Confirming Achraf Hakimi's Unique Status

Achraf Hakimi has undoubtedly made history by becoming the first Moroccan player to score in a Champions League final. This groundbreaking achievement resonated deeply and brought great pride to Morocco and the entire African continent. Despite being born in Madrid, Spain, Hakimi represents the Moroccan national team, confirming his identity as a Moroccan star.

Explanation of Moroccan Players' Participations and Victories in Champions League Finals

While Hakimi is the first Moroccan player to score in a final, it is important to provide a comprehensive historical context regarding the participation and victories of other Moroccan players in Champions League finals. According to a UEFA statement, Hakimi became the first Moroccan player to participate in a Champions League final in 2017, during his first spell with Real Madrid. However, the honor of being the first Moroccan player to win the Champions League title belongs to Munir El Haddadi, who achieved this feat with Barcelona in the 2014-2015 season. It is important to note that Munir was part of the winning squad, but "was not included in the squad for either final."

Other Moroccan players who have lifted the Champions League trophy as part of winning teams, but without scoring in the final, include:

● Hakim Ziyech: He won with Chelsea in 2021 and played a key role in their campaign, but "did not participate in the final" itself against Manchester City.

● Brahim Diaz: Representing Morocco internationally, Diaz played a crucial role in Madrid's 2024 Champions League-winning campaign, particularly in the knockout stages, where he contributed significantly to the club's success. Although he lifted the trophy, he "did not participate in the final against Dortmund."

Achraf Hakimi himself is now a two-time Champions League champion, having won the first title with Real Madrid in 2018. His contributions in the 2018 final were limited. This makes him the only Arab player to have won the Champions League twice, a remarkable and unique achievement. This illustration highlights the nuances of the historical achievements of Moroccan players in the Champions League final: Munir El Haddadi was the first to win the title (as part of the squad), Hakimi was the first to play in it (in 2017), and now, most importantly, the first to score in it. This meticulous detail demonstrates that while winning the title is the team's ultimate goal, scoring in the final represents a rare individual contribution with a significant and direct impact on the outcome of the match. Thus, Hakimi's achievement holds unique and pioneering significance for Moroccan football, representing a direct and decisive impact on the biggest football stage. Table 1: Moroccan Players in Champions League Finals

Joining the Elite: Arab Scorers in Champions League Finals

Achraf Hakimi: The Third Arab Scorer

Achraf Hakimi's goal in the 2025 Champions League Final confirmed his status as only the third Arab player in history to score in the final of the competition. This places him in a very exclusive and prestigious list of Arab football legends, highlighting the rarity and significance of this achievement.

Rabah Madjer (Algeria): The Pioneer

The first Arab player to score in a European Cup final was Algerian striker Rabah Madjer. He achieved this historic feat in the 1987 European Cup final, scoring for Porto against Bayern Munich. Madjer's powerful backheeled goal in the 77th minute famously equalized for Porto. His audacious skill was decisive, as Porto won the final 2-1, and Madjer also set up the winning goal just three minutes later. His goal wasn't just a statistic, but an immortal moment of footballing artistry, celebrated as "one of UEFA's 60 Legendary Moments" due to its daring skill and its immense importance in securing the title. Madjer himself expressed his astonishment at scoring with a backheel in such an important match, describing the experience as "exceptional."

Mohamed Salah (Egypt): The Modern Icon

The second Arab player to score in a Champions League final was Egyptian star Mohamed Salah. Salah scored a decisive penalty kick for Liverpool in the 2019 final against Tottenham Hotspur.

His early penalty, scored in the second minute, put Liverpool ahead and contributed to their 2-0 victory, securing them the prestigious title.

The goals scored by Madjer, Salah, and Hakimi in Champions League finals represent a fascinating spectrum of playing styles, tactical roles, and historical eras. Madjer's technical and audacious backheel goal showcases individual brilliance and improvisation; Salah's decisive penalty demonstrates composure and precise finishing under immense pressure from a prolific striker; Hakimi's goal as an attacking full-back illustrates the evolving and dynamic role of full-backs in modern football. This diversity demonstrates that Arab talent has not only reached the pinnacle of European club football, but has done so by adapting to and influencing a different tactical landscape, showcasing a rich and diverse contribution to the history of the sport. Table 2: Arab players who have scored in Champions League finals

Beyond the goals: other Arab and Moroccan finalists

Wider representation of Arab and Moroccan players in Champions League finals

Alongside the exclusive group of top scorers, the increasing presence of Arab and Moroccan players in Champions League finals, whether participating in the match or as part of the winning squad, demonstrates the growing influence and depth of talent from the region within the elite of European club football. This demonstrates that success at this level is often a collective effort, with players contributing in different capacities throughout a grueling campaign, going beyond just the starting XI in the final.

: Notable Moroccans (non-final scorers)

● Achraf Hakimi (2018, Real Madrid): While his goal in 2025 is historic, Hakimi previously won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2018. His contributions in that campaign were noted as "limited," which, as his agent revealed, was a key factor in his strategic decision to move away from Real Madrid in search of more playing time. This makes him the only Arab player to have won the Champions League twice, a testament to his consistent excellence and adaptability across elite clubs.

● Munir El Haddadi (2015, Barcelona): Munir holds the distinction of being the first Moroccan player to win the Champions League, achieving this with Barcelona in the 2014-2015 season. However, it is important to note that he was not included in the squad for either final, highlighting that winning a title as part of the squad is different from playing in a final.

● Hakim Ziyech (2021, Chelsea): Ziyech played a key role in Chelsea's successful 2021 Champions League campaign, which culminated in a victory over Manchester City. Despite his contributions throughout the tournament, he did not participate in the final itself.

● Brahim Diaz (2024, Real Madrid): Brahim Diaz, who represents Morocco internationally, was a crucial element in Real Madrid's 2024 Champions League-winning campaign, especially in the knockout stages, where he contributed significantly to the team's success. Like Ziyech and El Haddadi, he lifted the trophy but did not participate in the final against Dortmund.

(Notable Arab finalists (non-scorers)

Riyad Mahrez (2023, Manchester City): The Algerian star completed his trophy-laden trophy cabinet by winning the Champions League with Manchester City in 2023, as part of their continental treble. Although he was on the bench in the final against Inter Milan, he scored crucial goals in the semi-finals of a previous Champions League campaign, demonstrating his integral role in City's journey to the final.

The presence of several Arab players who have won the Champions League, even if they did not always participate in the final, confirms the great depth of talent coming from the Middle East and North Africa region, which has become an integral part of the top teams. European football levels. This demonstrates that success at this level is often a collective team effort, with players contributing in different capacities throughout a grueling campaign, going beyond just the starting XI at the final. This trend indicates a maturing football ecosystem in the Arab world, producing players capable of competing and succeeding at the highest club level. Hakimi's status as the only Arab player to have won the Champions League twice with two different clubs (Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain) is a rare and exceptional achievement. This accomplishment goes beyond just a single moment of glory and speaks to his consistent excellence, tactical adaptability, and consistent ability to perform at the highest levels across different major club environments and under diverse coaching philosophies. This further reinforces his status as a figure Table 3: Other notable Arab and Moroccan Champions League finalists.

Lasting Legacy: Impact on Regional Football

Inspiration and National Pride

Achraf Hakimi's achievement, particularly as the first Moroccan to score in a Champions League final, is a profound source of national pride for Morocco. The image of him wearing the Moroccan flag after the victory symbolizes this deep connection. He represents a powerful and tangible inspiration to aspiring young footballers across the country and the wider African continent, demonstrating that reaching and excelling at the pinnacle of European club football is an achievable dream. His success, along with the historic achievements of other Arab Champions League winners such as Madjer, Salah, Mahrez, Ziyech, Diaz, and El Haddadi, reinforces a compelling narrative of Arab football excellence on the global stage, fostering a sense of identity and collective achievement. The outstanding success of players like Hakimi in the Champions League acts as a powerful catalyst for tangible development within the football systems in Morocco and other Arab countries. This vision could directly translate into increased government and private sector investment in youth academies, training infrastructure, and talent identification programs. It provides tangible evidence that nurturing local talent can lead to global success, thus encouraging a more structured and professional approach to developing football from grassroots to elite.

Hakimi's growing status as a global icon

Hakimi's consistent high-level performances throughout the 2025 UEFA Champions League campaign, culminating in a goal in the final and a second title, firmly establish him as one of the world's elite players. He is now widely regarded as the best right-back in the world today. His exceptional attacking contributions (4 goals and 5 assists in the Champions League; 9 goals and 14 assists overall for Paris Saint-Germain in 2025) strengthen his claim to major individual accolades. Some sources suggest he should win the African Player of the Year award ahead of Mohamed Salah, citing his treble-winning performances with Paris Saint-Germain and his decisive influence on major European nights.

Contributing to Paris Saint-Germain's historic triumph

Hakimi's opening goal was pivotal in Paris Saint-Germain's long-awaited Champions League triumph, a title that had eluded the club despite massive investment and the presence of global stars such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé. This victory symbolizes a strategic shift for Paris Saint-Germain under coach Luis Enrique, as the club transitions from an era characterized by "big-name signings" to building a real team. Hakimi, as a key element of this new, cohesive philosophy, embodies the success of this team-oriented approach. The continued presence and success of Arab players in Champions League finals, particularly with high-impact contributions such as scoring, contributes to a broader shift in global perceptions of football. It goes beyond traditional footballing powers to recognize the diverse and growing talents of players from all over the world. This not only enhances the "brand" of Arab football on the international stage, but also challenges stereotypes and showcases the technical skills, tactical intelligence, and physical prowess of players from the region. This global recognition could lead to increased talent scouting, transfer opportunities, and general respect for Arab football nations.

Conclusion

This report has comprehensively explored and contextualized the historical significance of Achraf Hakimi's remarkable goal in the 2025 UEFA Champions League Final. It has confirmed his dual pioneering status: he is not only the first Moroccan player to score in the competition's final, but also only the third Arab player to achieve this rare feat, joining the esteemed ranks of Rabah Madjer and Mohamed Salah. The analysis also highlighted Hakimi's unique status as the only Arab player to hold two UEFA Champions League titles, underscoring his enduring excellence, tactical adaptability, and lasting impact across club environments. Beyond individual achievements, the report emphasized the broader impact of Hakimi's success and that of other Arab players on regional football, as it represents a powerful source of inspiration for a new generation and significantly raises the profile of Arab talent on the global football scene. In conclusion, Achraf Hakimi's contribution goes beyond mere statistics; it represents a historic moment in Moroccan and Arab football, cementing his status as a true icon whose achievements carry a profound cultural and sporting resonance for millions of people.