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Topics: PSG, Achraf Hakimi, Ballon d'Or, Ousmane Dembele, Football, Champions League
Tom Jenkins
Topics: PSG, Achraf Hakimi, Ballon d'Or, Ousmane Dembele, Football, Champions League
PSG have taken action against Achraf Hakimi following controversial comments about this year's Ballon d'Or in a new interview.
The 2025 Ballon d'Or has been one of the more open races in recent years as the footballing world acclimatises to a world without Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele dominated the headlines towards the end of the season, and with PSG securing their first ever Champions League the Frenchman is now the odds-on favourite.
However, speaking on Saturday, PSG star Hakimi snubbed his teammate and made some bold comments about his own hopes at winning the award.
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"If I have the opportunity to win it, I think I deserve it too," Hakimi said in an interview with Canal+.
"After the historic season I had - there aren't many players who have scored in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals - while it's more difficult as a defender.
"People think I'm a striker or a midfielder, but no, I play in a line of four and I have to think about defending.
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"The statistics I had this year are not those of a normal defender. I think that when a defender does that, he deserves more than a striker," he added.
According to French outlet L'Equipe, PSG attempted to censor part of Hakimi's interview with the club, which focused on platforming Dembele's bid for the award.
Le Parisien also claimed Hakimi's comments were not well received by PSG due to the club not appreciating players putting themselves forward and insisting players praise the team before themselves.
This comes just days after Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, visited the players to claim every member of the squad deserved the Ballon d'Or.
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"The team is above all. I ask you to remain united. You all deserve the Ballon d'Or," he said.
Despite Hakimi's comments causing a stir at boardroom level, the report stresses that there are no tensions within the dressing room or issues with player ego.