Hakimi becomes the African with the most World Cup appearances ever — and he's not done yet
With 11 World Cup matches to his name, Morocco's captain has equalled the African record and could stand alone at the top as early as next Friday, against Scotland.
The draw with Brazil cost Morocco two precious points — but it left a historic footnote on Achraf Hakimi's résumé. With last Saturday's match, the full-back and captain reached 11 World Cup appearances, making him the Moroccan player with the most games in the competition, according to ge.
The previous mark was ten appearances, shared with Ziyech — who was not even called up for the 2026 World Cup. Hakimi not only surpassed his teammate but also equalled the African record, drawing level with Cameroonian Omam-Biyik and Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan. The all-time continental record is within reach: he just needs to take the field next Friday, against Scotland.
Hakimi's World Cup journey is a story in its own right. He made his debut in 2018 with three appearances. In 2022, he added seven more — and what a seven: Morocco reached the semi-finals, knocking out Spain and Portugal along the way, and Hakimi found the net against Canada. Now, at his third World Cup, he captains a side that won the Africa Cup of Nations and arrives on the back of a Champions League title with PSG.
Golmetria's model gives Morocco an 80% chance of advancing from the group stage — a figure that reflects the respect commanded by the African side, even after the stumble against Brazil. For the six-peat dream, the path remains open: the model puts Brazil's qualification chances at 91%, though a less-than-ideal opener has set off a note of caution.
Hakimi is already part of history. The question now is: how far can he and Morocco go in this World Cup?