Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi has etched his name into Ligue 1 history after scoring a hat-trick, becoming the first Moroccan player to achieve the feat in France’s top flight since Sofiane Boufal in April 2016.

Hakimi’s remarkable performance ends a wait of more than a decade for a Moroccan player to score three goals in a single Ligue 1 match. Boufal was the last to accomplish the milestone when he netted a hat-trick for Lille against Gazélec Ajaccio on April 16, 2016.

The Paris Saint-Germain defender is the 19th Moroccan player to score a Ligue 1 hat-trick over the past 70 seasons, further underlining his place among the country’s most accomplished footballers in France.

His achievement is particularly notable given his defensive position. Hakimi has become the first defender to score a hat-trick in Ligue 1 since Youcef Atal achieved the feat for Nice against Guingamp on April 28, 2019.

Known for his blistering pace, attacking runs and ability to contribute in the final third, Hakimi has consistently demonstrated that his influence extends well beyond his primary defensive responsibilities.

The Moroccan captain’s latest milestone highlights his attacking quality and adds another remarkable chapter to his career in French football.

His hat-trick also places him in an exclusive group of players to have scored three goals in a single Ligue 1 match, a feat made even more impressive by the rarity of defenders achieving it.