Achraf Hakimi Faces Six-Week Recovery Due to Ankle Injury

Achraf Hakimi, the defender for Paris Saint-Germain and the Morocco national team, has sustained a severely strained right ankle and is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of six weeks, according to sources reported by ESPN.

The injury occurred during PSG’s Champions League match against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, when Hakimi was tackled aggressively by Luis Díaz just before halftime. Following a VAR review, Díaz received a red card for the tackle, while Hakimi was visibly emotional as he was stretchered off the field on his 27th birthday.

Subsequent medical scans conducted on Wednesday indicated that Hakimi did not suffer a fracture and will not require surgery. However, he will need to remain immobilized for two weeks prior to commencing a rehabilitation program that is expected to last at least four weeks.

This injury raises concerns regarding Hakimi’s participation in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, which Morocco is hosting. Sources within PSG are apprehensive that he may not be able to return in time for the tournament’s group stages, commencing on December 21, although there remains hope for his availability in the knockout rounds.

In a show of sportsmanship, Luis Díaz expressed his well wishes for Hakimi on social media after the match. He stated, “It was a night full of emotions. Football always reminds us that, in 90 minutes, anything can happen—the best and the worst. I was sad not to finish the match with my teammates, but proud of their incredible effort. Wishing Hakimi a quick return to the pitch.”

Hakimi’s injury is not an isolated incident; he was one of three players to sustain injuries during the match against Bayern. Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé suffered a calf strain upon his return from a previous hamstring injury, while Nuno Mendes experienced a sprained left knee. Reports suggest that both players are also unlikely to return to action before the year’s end.