With his 19th Champions League assist in PSG’s win over FC Barcelona (4-2), Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi draws level with Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah and now has Samuel Eto’o’s African record in his sights.
In the 86th minute of Paris Saint-Germain’s 4-2 win over FC Barcelona, Achraf Hakimi set up Paris midfielder Fabián Ruiz. It was his 19th assist in the Champions League, according to figures reported by beIN Sports.
The 27-year-old Moroccan right-back therefore joins Mohamed Salah in second place among the best African assist providers in the competition’s history, according to Goal.com. Salah is not playing in the Champions League this season: he is turning out in the Conference League with Trabzonspor. Ahead of them stands a single name: Samuel Eto’o, the former Cameroon striker and African record-holder with 20 Champions League assists, according to Stats Foot and beIN Sports.
A record built over time
With this assist, Hakimi now has 79 Champions League appearances, putting him fourth among the most-capped African players in the competition, according to Playmaker Stats.
The feat is all the more remarkable given that he plays at right-back, unlike the forwards who top this ranking, Fanzword points out.
Lyon then Villarreal in his sights
The fixture list gives the Paris captain several chances to pass the milestone. PSG face Olympique Lyonnais on 25 October 2026 in a Ligue 1 showdown, before hosting Villarreal in the Champions League on 3 November.
Hakimi needs just one assist to equal Eto’o and two to take sole possession of first place in the competition’s African ranking, according to Africa Top Sports. PSG already lead their group with 9 points from 3 matches, according to beIN Sports.
A conquering side under Luis Enrique
Hakimi reacted to the win: “We faced one of the best teams in the world, but our team is incredible! We are ambitious and we proved it again today.”
He also highlighted the conquering mindset that coach Luis Enrique demands of the group every day, according to Foot Africa.
The defender is also among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, alongside Sadio Mané, according to Africa Soccer.