Ousmane Dembélé led the celebrations after Achraf Hakimi claimed the 2025 African Player of the Year award.
He beat stiff competition from Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen, and Serhou Guirassy to the continent’s top honour.
Hakimi became the fifth Moroccan to secure the crown, and Dembélé wasted no time saluting his former PSG teammate.
He posted a short but emotional message on Instagram—“Well deserved, bro”—and filled it with emojis that showed the depth of their long-standing friendship.
Kylian Mbappé joined in with an even louder tribute.
He hailed Hakimi as “The King of Africa,” insisted the award “couldn’t be more deserved,” and added a string of Moroccan flags to underline his admiration.
Hakimi’s rise captured global attention throughout the year, and his win sent waves across European football.
The reactions from Mbappé and Dembélé highlighted not just his superb performances, but the respect he commands in dressing rooms across the continent and beyond.
