Mustapha Hadji, the former Morocco international, puts Achraf Hakimi, the PSG full-back, at the top of the greatest players in Morocco’s history, with Yassine Bounou second, in a video interview due to appear on Kooora and carried by several media outlets.
The debate over the greatest players in the history of Moroccan football has been reopened by a statement from Mustapha Hadji. In a video interview due to appear on Kooora, the former international places Achraf Hakimi at the top of the pile, ahead of Yassine Bounou, and believes the two men are well ahead of the other legends of the Atlas Lions. His comments were carried by Goal, Kick Off Ghana and AfricaSoccer.
This is not an official ranking, but Hadji’s personal assessment, and he is a legend of Moroccan football himself. “Yes, Hakimi is the best player in the history of Moroccan football, a long way ahead of any other player. He is far ahead of the others,” he told Kooora, according to Goal.
Hakimi, a status apart
Hadji does not stop at a simple pecking order: he describes Hakimi as a role model for Moroccan youth. “Hakimi is a role model for Moroccan youth on the pitch, and I believe he tops the list, with Yassine Bounou in second place, then the others come a long way behind them,” he continued, again according to Goal. The PSG full-back has 103 caps for Morocco, the second-highest total in the country’s history behind Noureddine Naybet (115).
On an individual level, Hakimi was crowned African Player of the Year 2025 and is a candidate for the same title in 2026. He has also won three Champions Leagues with his clubs: one with Real Madrid and two with PSG, according to Dongqiudi.
Bounou, a place of honour
Behind Hakimi, Hadji ranks Yassine Bounou, the Morocco international goalkeeper and the country’s third most-capped player with 99 caps, according to Goal. In the former international’s personal view, the goalkeeper thus comes ahead of the other legends of Moroccan football.
With 103 caps for Hakimi and 99 for Bounou, the two men are among the three most-capped players in Morocco’s history, behind Naybet. This hierarchy remains subjective and particular to Hadji.
Hadji steps aside
Asked about his own place among Moroccan legends, Mustapha Hadji replied: “No, I am far from that,” according to Goal. An answer that leaves the spotlight to the current players, and especially to Hakimi.
The coming fixtures could add further fuel to the debate. Morocco are due to face Niger on 13 November 2026 in CAN qualifying, according to Kick Off Ghana, a match that will give Hakimi and Bounou the chance to add to their cap totals. Hakimi is also a candidate to retain the 2026 African Ballon d’Or, a vote whose outcome is not yet known.