Achraf Hakimi has matched a historic UEFA Champions League record previously held by Ghana legend Samuel Kuffour after making his 72nd appearance in the competition.
The Paris Saint-Germain right-back reached the milestone during his side’s impressive 5–2 victory over Chelsea FC in the first leg of their Round of 16 clash on Wednesday night.
With that appearance, Hakimi equalled the record for the most Champions League matches played by an African defender, a mark that had long been associated with the former FC Bayern Munich star Kuffour.
Hakimi’s achievement reflects his consistency at the highest level of European football. Since breaking into the professional scene as a young player, the Moroccan international has been a regular figure in Europe’s elite club competition.
His Champions League journey began with Real Madrid before he gained further experience during his time at Borussia Dortmund in Germany. The attacking full-back later featured in the tournament while playing for Inter Milan and has continued to shine since joining Paris Saint-Germain.
Renowned for his pace, attacking instincts and defensive reliability, Hakimi has developed into one of the most influential full-backs in world football and a key part of PSG’s ambitions in both domestic and European competitions.
The record he has now matched was originally set by Kuffour during a highly successful career with Bayern Munich. The Ghanaian defender played a major role in the club’s triumph in the 2001 UEFA Champions League Final, securing his place among Africa’s most celebrated defenders.
At 26 years old, Hakimi still has plenty of time to surpass the record outright and potentially set a new benchmark for African defenders in the Champions League.