Legend! Achraf Hakimi breaks into the top 5 African players by Champions League appearances
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
Tonight's Champions League semi-final against Bayern marks a milestone event for Achraf Hakimi.
Details: Starting for PSG, the Moroccan defender officially made his 76th appearance in Europe's most prestigious club tournament. According to Stats Foot, this achievement puts him level with the legendary Michael Essien and secures his place among the top five African footballers with the most Champions League matches in history.
Now, only true legends of world football remain ahead of Hakimi—names that have become synonymous with African representation in European football. Mohamed Salah tops this illustrious list with 98 games, followed by Didier Drogba (92) and Samuel Eto'o (78).
Given Hakimi's age and ambition, he has every chance in the coming seasons not only to catch up with but also to surpass many on this list, cementing his status as one of the greatest African footballers in European competition history.
Reminder: Real is considering appointing Luis Enrique as head coach.
