Hakimi omitted from Marc-Vivien Foé award shortlist amid off-field proceedings
Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi has been excluded from the shortlist for the 2026 Marc-Vivien Foé prize, the award given to the best African player in Ligue 1. According to reports from France 24 and RFI, who revealed the eleven nominees, the organising body has chosen to consider behaviour off the pitch, with Hakimi currently facing a trial for rape. The Moroccan international, who won the award in 2025, has made 15 league appearances this season but does not meet the new ethical criteria for nomination.
The list of finalists includes several established stars and emerging talents from across the French top flight. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Marseille and Lille's Aïssa Mandi bring veteran presence, while younger players like Monaco's Lamine Camara and RC Lens midfielder Mamadou Sangaré are recognised for their breakout campaigns. The award, established in 2009 in memory of the late Cameroonian midfielder, requires nominees to have been capped by their national team and to have played in at least half of the season's league matches.
Hakimi's omission marks a significant shift in the award's selection process, explicitly linking on-field performance with off-field conduct. The 25-year-old full-back, a key figure for both PSG and the Moroccan national team, had been a consistent performer prior to the allegations. His absence from the shortlist is the most notable in a year where RC Lens's Sangaré aims to become the first Malian player to win the trophy.
The winner will be announced on May 11. Hakimi's future, both in football and with the ongoing legal proceedings, remains uncertain. For PSG, the situation adds another layer of complexity to a season where the player's contributions on the pitch have been overshadowed by serious off-field matters. The club has not publicly commented on the award shortlist.
