Hakimi makes history. Morocco defender sets new World Cup record
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
Morocco's defender Achraf Hakimi continues to etch his name into football history, becoming the African player with the most appearances at the FIFA World Cup.
The Round of 16 clash against Canada marked the 27-year-old's 15th career outing at the World Cup finals. Hakimi now surpasses his national teammate Azzedine Ounahi, who has 12 matches to his name, and leaves behind a host of African football legends who each made 11 World Cup appearances. Among them are Ghana's Asamoah Gyan, Cameroon's François Omam-Biyik, Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, and Senegal's Ismaïla Sarr.
Hakimi made his World Cup debut in 2018, but it was at the 2022 tournament where he led Morocco to a historic breakthrough, helping his nation become the first African team ever to reach the semi-finals. At the 2026 World Cup, the defender continues to smash records and remains a cornerstone for his national side.
