Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi are best friends off the pitch. The two who had fun at the gas station last year will now meet in the semi-finals of the World Championships.
The meeting between France and Morocco in the semi-finals of the World Cup is, in advance, a fiery meeting from a social point of view. Morocco is a former French colony.
In Paris in particular, the large Moroccan community has visibly celebrated the country’s previous victories, and unrest is feared. of Le Parisien magazine (you will switch to another service) according to more than 2,000 police patrolling the streets of Paris on Wednesday night during the match.
There is therefore exceptionally high tension around the match between France and Morocco, but the meeting between the two superstars on the field is expected to be warm in a completely different way.
French Kylian Mbappe and Morocco Achraf Hakimi are teammates at PSG and best friends off the field as well. The two exchanged warm messages during the tournament on social media. Mbappe went personally congratulating (you will switch to another service) Hakimia at a hotel in Morocco after the team was eliminated from the Spanish play-off.
The duo’s friendship began in the summer of 2021, when Hakimi moved to PSG from Inter. Hakimi has said that Mbappe is teaching him French. Mbappe, on the other hand, received a guide to the secrets of Arabic cuisine from Hakim On PSG’s Youtube channel (you will switch to another service) in a shared video.
– We are two young men of the same age who share similar tastes. We talk about music and video games, go to restaurants and just hang out together. We like each other, Hakimi told Le Parisien magazine in March.
Many would rub their eyes when Mbappe and Hakimi appeared at the gas station after the away game played in Rennes. The two posed between chocolate shelves and the pictures spread like wildfire on social media.
– When traveling by bus, you must stop at a gas station. We wanted a cook and a snack. It was a moment when we had fun. We are young and we want to enjoy life, Hakimi described.
In the fall, Hakimi gave Mbappe a new nickname, which has also been seen in the World Cup. In the French league match, Mbappe scored a hat-trick into Lille’s net and traditionally got the game ball for himself. Hakimi signed the ball for “Pingviini” – and a new nickname was born.
When Hakimi slotted the decisive penalty into the net against Spain, he fanned his goal, swaying like a penguin. Hakimi and Sergio Ramos launched the airing in August, when Mbappe joined the penguin dance club.
Hakimi and Mbappe also find each other on the pitch. Over the past two seasons, Mbappe’s hits have only been passed more than Hakim Lionel Messi and Neymar.
Before the semi-finals, Mbappe leads the scoring market of the World Cup tournament with five hits. On the other hand, Hakimi is part of the most convincing defense of the Games. Only one goal has been scored for Morocco in five matches, and that too was scored by an own player.
England were able to keep Mbappe at bay in the quarter-finals. At right wing-back With Kyle Walker played a big role as Mbappe’s overcoat. And who plays the same position in Morocco?
So. The whole footballing world is eagerly waiting for Mbappe and Hakim to meet on the same side.
Unbelievably, Mbappe already predicted at the beginning of the year that France and Morocco would meet in the World Cup. The PSG team visited the World Cup venues in January, when the conversation between Mbappe and Hakim was recorded on video. Mbappe’s prediction is available for viewing On YouTube (you will switch to another service).
– When we play here against Morocco, I have to destroy my friends on the field. It breaks my heart, but football is what it is, Mbappe says in the video in English as Hakim laughs next to him.
Only one can celebrate World Cup gold in Qatar. Whatever happened, it will hardly have any effect on Mbappe and Hakim’s friendship.
The World Cup semi-final between France and Morocco is followed moment by moment in ‘s World Cup coverage.