Achraf Hakimi has become the first African footballer to earn three selections in the FIFPRO Men’s World 11, following his inclusion in the 2026 team announced on Monday, November 9.
The Paris Saint-Germain right-back, who previously featured in the 2022 and 2025 editions, was also the most popular defender in this year’s voting. He received 40.9% support in the defensive category, ahead of Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí and PSG teammate Nuno Mendes.
The achievement establishes a new African record in an award decided exclusively by professional footballers. A total of 19,806 men’s players from 73 countries participated in the 2026 vote.
For Hakimi, the recognition reflects his continued presence among the world’s leading defenders across several seasons, including two consecutive Champions League-winning campaigns with PSG.
Hakimi Moves Ahead of Eto’o in African World 11 History
Hakimi’s third selection takes him beyond the previous African record held by Samuel Eto’o.
The former Cameroon striker appeared in the first two editions of the FIFPRO Men’s World 11, in 2005 and 2006. Didier Drogba subsequently represented Côte d’Ivoire in the 2007 team.
Hakimi first joined the World 11 in the 2022 edition, following a year that included Morocco’s historic run to the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar.
He returned in 2025 after playing an important role in PSG’s successful season, which included the club’s first UEFA Champions League title.
His inclusion in 2026 marks a second consecutive selection and a third appearance across four editions.
The record is particularly notable given the competition for defensive places. Since the award’s introduction in 2005, players such as Sergio Ramos, Dani Alves and Virgil van Dijk have featured regularly among the world’s leading defenders.
Hakimi has now established a record of his own within African men’s football.
Hakimi Leads the 2026 Defender Vote With 40.9%
Hakimi’s inclusion was supported by a substantial margin in the defensive voting.
| Defender | Club | Vote share |
|---|---|---|
| Achraf Hakimi | Paris Saint-Germain | 40.9% |
| Pau Cubarsí | Barcelona | 26.8% |
| Nuno Mendes | Paris Saint-Germain | 25.5% |
| Gabriel Magalhães | Arsenal | 22.4% |
| William Saliba | Arsenal | 20.9% |
Hakimi finished 14.1 percentage points ahead of Cubarsí, the second-ranked defender.
Unlike the Ballon d’Or or awards decided by journalists and specialist panels, the FIFPRO World 11 is selected by fellow professional players.
Each voter chooses three players in each positional category: goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward. The leading candidates are then selected according to the competition’s allocation rules.
For the 2026 men’s edition, FIFPRO assessed performances between August 4, 2025, and July 19, 2026. Players needed at least 30 official appearances during that period to qualify.
Hakimi’s recent hat-trick and two assists against Le Havre, recorded on October 30, therefore came after the assessment period.
His 2026 selection reflects performances during the preceding club and international campaigns rather than those more recent contributions.
PSG’s Attacking Full-Back Earns Further Recognition
Hakimi’s influence at Paris Saint-Germain extends beyond traditional right-back responsibilities.
Under Luis Enrique, he provides width and forward runs from the right, frequently moving into advanced positions to support attacking combinations.
His pace also allows him to recover defensively when PSG lose possession, an important quality in a team that regularly commits players forward.
The balance between attacking involvement and defensive responsibility has become a defining part of his role.
PSG’s successful defence of their Champions League title provided another major platform for Hakimi during the period assessed by FIFPRO.
The French club defeated Arsenal on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the final in Budapest on May 30, 2026, becoming European champions for a second consecutive season.
Three PSG players feature in the 2026 World 11: Hakimi, Nuno Mendes and midfielder Vitinha.
For Hakimi and Mendes, their simultaneous selection is recognition of two attacking full-backs operating on opposite sides of the same team.
The complete 2026 World 11 also includes David Raya, Jude Bellingham, Rodri, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal.
What the Record Means for Morocco
Hakimi’s third selection adds another international distinction to a career that has closely connected club success with Morocco’s national-team progress.
He was part of the Atlas Lions side that reached the 2022 World Cup semi-finals and remains one of the senior team’s most experienced players.
His value to Morocco is not limited to his attacking contribution from right-back.
Hakimi offers experience in major international competitions, familiarity with different tactical systems and the ability to influence matches from a defensive starting position.
His role as captain also gives him responsibilities beyond individual performance.
The latest FIFPRO recognition comes while Hakimi is also competing for another major African honour.
He is among the three Moroccan players nominated for the 2026 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award, alongside Brahim Díaz and Ismael Saibari.
The two awards assess players through different voting processes. His FIFPRO selection does not determine the outcome of the CAF competition.
Nevertheless, the repeated recognition provides evidence of how consistently Hakimi has been rated by his professional peers.
For Morocco, the distinction is a significant individual milestone: the country’s captain is now the most frequently selected African footballer in the history of the FIFPRO Men’s World 11.
His achievement also adds to the international recognition documented in Atlas Lions Insider’s Achraf Hakimi player profile.
Sources
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