2026 Ballon d’Or: As the ranking’s second-best defender, is Hakimi in the right place?

Achraf Hakimi finished 13th in the 2026 Ballon d’Or, seven places lower than the previous year, when he ranked sixth. His 2025-26 season with PSG brought the Champions League, Ligue 1, the UEFA Super Cup and the Champions Trophy; he also recorded four goals and 17 assists in 49 matches. Hakimi was the second-highest-ranked defender, behind Pau Cubarsí, and placed ahead of several top players, including PSG teammates Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes and Marquinhos. Uncertainty over the African champion title and strong competition from the top 10’s attacking stars may have affected his position.