Top 5 best Morocco football players of all time: Is Achraf Hakimi worthy of the No.1 spot?

It has been an extraordinary day for Moroccan football supporters, as Senegal have been stripped of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, paving the way for Morocco to be crowned champions. The decision reshapes the outcome of the tournament and hands the Atlas Lions a historic triumph.

For Achraf Hakimi and his teammates, it is a reward that reflects the level they showed throughout the competition. Playing on home soil, Morocco delivered a series of outstanding performances and, in the end, look every bit a deserving winner.

This success further strengthens Hakimi’s standing in the game and brings him closer to a place among the country’s all-time greats. With that in mind, Soccer24.net takes a look at the Top 5 best Morocco football players of all time.

Top 5 best Morocco football players of all time

5. Salaheddine Bassir

Salaheddine Bassir remains one of Morocco’s most recognizable attacking figures, widely admired for his sharp finishing and his impact on the biggest stage. He came to global attention during the 1998 FIFA World Cup, where his performances underlined his reputation as a reliable goalscorer.

Over the course of his international career, Bassir won 59 caps and scored 27 goals, placing him among the country’s leading scorers. Despite standing at just 1.70m, he made full use of his low centre of gravity and quick acceleration, which allowed him to slip past defenders in tight areas. He was particularly effective in front of goal, thanks to his instinctive first touch and his ability to finish confidently with either foot.

At club level, Bassir was part of a successful Deportivo La Coruña side that enjoyed a golden period, winning the La Liga title in the 1999-2000 season before adding the Spanish Super Cup the following year.

4. Medhi Benatia

Medhi Benatia is widely regarded as one of the finest African defenders of the 21st century, combining physical strength with a strong reading of the game. He built his reputation at the highest level in Europe, where he became a commanding presence at the heart of defence, while also captaining Morocco during their return to the global stage.

His rise was underlined in 2014 when he secured a high-profile move from AS Roma to Bayern Munich for a fee of around €26 million, a figure that made him one of the most expensive African defenders at the time. Success followed at club level, as he went on to win back-to-back Bundesliga titles with Bayern before adding further silverware in Italy with Juventus, including three Serie A titles and the Italian Super Cup.

On the international stage, Benatia remained a key figure for Morocco, featuring at the 2018 World Cup as well as the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. He eventually brought his international career to a close in October 2019, leaving behind the legacy of a leader who helped re-establish the national team’s presence among football’s elite.

3. Youssef El-Arabi

Youssef El-Arabi has long been regarded as a quiet but deadly presence in front of goal, building a career defined by consistency, longevity and clinical finishing across multiple leagues in Europe and the Middle East.

Over the years, he has amassed more than 280 goals at club level, with spells at Stade Malherbe Caen, Al-Hilal, Granada CF, Al-Duhail SC, Olympiacos and now APOEL FC. It was in Greece, however, where he truly left his mark. Between 2019 and 2024, El-Arabi scored 94 goals in 225 appearances for Olympiacos, establishing himself as the club’s most prolific foreign scorer in

European competitions and playing a key role in their UEFA Europa Conference League triumph in the 2023-24 season.

He has since moved on to APOEL, where he continues to extend his career at a high level. On the international stage, El-Arabi earned 47 caps for Morocco and scored 16 goals, while also representing the national team at three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

2. Mustapha Hadji

Mustapha Hadji is widely regarded as one of the most gifted playmakers to emerge from Africa, admired for his elegance on the ball and instantly recognizable for his trademark ponytail. He rose to prominence during the 1990s, a period in which his performances attracted interest from several of Europe’s leading clubs.

Hadji built his reputation on exceptional technical ability, combining close control with sharp body movement to glide past defenders with ease. His creativity and flair made him a central figure for both club and country, and his influence was recognised in 1998 when he was named African Footballer of the Year.

At international level, he earned 63 caps for Morocco and scored 13 goals between 1993 and 2002, playing a key role during an important era for the national team. His legacy was further cemented in 2007, when CAF included him among the 50 greatest African players of the previous half-century.

1. Achraf Hakimi

Achraf Hakimi is widely considered one of the leading wing-backs in world football today, and his place at the top of this list would be fully justified. Still in his mid-twenties, he has already built a career that few can match, having featured across four of Europe’s top five leagues.

His journey has taken him through Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, where he has accumulated more than 300 appearances and contributed over 40 goals from a defensive role. Along the way, he has collected major honours, including the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup during his time with Real Madrid, before adding multiple Ligue 1 titles and another Champions League triumph with Paris in the 2024-25 season.

On the international stage, Hakimi has become a central figure for Morocco and played a decisive role in their AFCON 2025 title-winning campaign. When compared with other great names in Moroccan football history, his trophy haul already sets him apart, further strengthening the case for his place among the very best.

Top 5 best Morocco football players of all time

5. Salaheddine Bassir

4. Medhi Benatia

3. Youssef El-Arabi

2. Mustapha Hadji

1. Achraf Hakimi

Soccer24.net has listed the top 5 best Morocco football players of all time.

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