Achraf Hakimi: By any footballing measure, Achraf Hakimi has just had the season of his life. Four trophies with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) – including the club’s first UEFA Champions League – 27 goal involvements from right-back, and a tactical mutation under Luis Enrique that saw him playing more winger than a right-back.
The Atlas Lion is now hurtling, eyes fixed on football’s most gilded prey — the Ballon d’Or. Until, of course, the French justice system decided to butt in.
Last Friday, French prosecutors gave the kiss of life to a two-and-a-half-year-old rape case. The timing is suspicious. One could argue it reeks of sabotage to the benefit of none other than Hakimi’s PSG teammate – and French international – Ousmane Dembélé. So, let’s unpack this murky farce.
The Case That Refused to Die
On February 27, 2023, the Nanterre prosecutor opened a preliminary investigation into Hakimi. Oddly, no official complaint had been filed. No medical certificate. No physical evidence. Nothing that typically kickstarts such a serious accusation. Yet the judicial gears turned.
And just as the Ballon d’Or jury was set to consider its shortlist of nominees, France wants to send the Moroccan star to the criminal court.
A Shaky Accusation
The case itself is riddled with inconsistencies. Leaked messages between the accuser – dubbed “Amélie” – and her friend Nadia paint a picture more of premeditated manipulation and financial blackmail than victimhood.
Hours before visiting Hakimi’s home, Amélie texted “J’ai le démon mdrr,” while Nadia urged her to go “mode femme fatale” and “dépouiller” the player – street slang for robbing someone blind. They even exchanged lyrics from a French rap song about taking risks for financial gain.
At 1:15 am, Amélie reportedly texted that she was keen on a sexual encounter. Yet post-incident, she refused to share the full exchange with the police. It was only after detectives grilled her friend that these incriminating messages surfaced, which the accuser had deleted.
Hakimi, for his part, has flatly denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer has decried the prosecution’s demand for trial as “insane.” Kylian Mbappé, the most valuable French footballer on Earth, backed his former teammate, stating Hakimi is “respectful with women” and never exhibited any inappropriate behaviour.
The Club des Avocats au Maroc has now stepped in, forming an independent commission to scrutinise the legal circus. Their concerns are about whether French justice is playing fair.
So Why Now?
Because it’s all so perfectly orchestrated. Hakimi’s bid for the Ballon d’Or is backed by substance: stats, trophies, records, performances. But France wouldn’t dare let a Moroccan lay his hands on the Ballon d’Or in lieu of their golden boy.
Hakimi is now cloaked in controversy. Not from new evidence. Not from trial proceedings. But from media noise, carefully timed to stain his image ahead of the Ballon d’Or voting.
Hakimi may be facing the match of his life, not on the pitch but in the court of public opinion. In the end, history may judge Hakimi not by the awards he didn’t win, but by the smear campaign he survived. And if France thinks it can quietly hand the Ballon d’Or to Dembélé through judicial puppeteering, it may well find the world is watching – and not buying a single word.