Paris Saint-Germain vice-captain Achraf Hakimi will not be considered for the 2026 Marc-Vivien Foé Award, one of African football’s most distinguished individual prizes, as his legal proceedings continue to intersect with his professional standing.
According to reports, Hakimi’s exclusion from the award shortlist is directly tied to his referral to trial over a rape allegation that dates back to February 2023. The case is scheduled to be heard before a departmental criminal court, where proceedings will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Marc-Vivien Foé Award, presented annually to the best African player competing in France’s top division, Ligue 1, carries a conduct requirement that extends beyond performance on the pitch. Organisers reportedly determined that Hakimi’s current legal situation rendered him ineligible under those conduct criteria, resulting in his omission from this year’s shortlist despite what has otherwise been a notable campaign for the Moroccan international.
Named in memory of Marc-Vivien Foé, the Cameroonian midfielder who died tragically during a semifinal match at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, the award is designed to honour both technical excellence and personal character. That dual standard has long distinguished it from other individual accolades in European football.
The honour carries considerable weight across the African football landscape. Former winners include Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and striker Victor Osimhen, both of whom claimed the award during standout Ligue 1 campaigns. Osimhen won the prize during his time at Lille OSC before his high-profile move to Napoli, while Enyeama’s recognition came during his celebrated years at Lille.
Hakimi, 26, has been one of PSG’s most consistent performers in recent seasons, operating as a dynamic right-back known for his attacking output and defensive discipline. He was appointed club vice-captain, a role that underscores his standing within the squad. His exclusion from the award shortlist, therefore, represents a significant reputational development beyond the legal dimension.
The Moroccan international, who also represented his country at the 2022 FIFA World Cup where Morocco reached the semifinals — a historic achievement for an African nation — has not made any public statement regarding his omission from the award, according to available reports.
The outcome of the criminal trial is expected to have broader implications for Hakimi’s career trajectory, public profile, and any future commercial or institutional associations. The timing of proceedings, relative to the football calendar, means the case will likely remain in focus throughout the remainder of the Ligue 1 season and into the summer transfer window.
Organisers of the Marc-Vivien Foé Award have not issued a detailed public explanation of their selection criteria as applied to Hakimi’s case, though sources suggest the conduct clause was the determining factor in his exclusion.
