(Doha) Kylian Mbappé will see his good friend Achraf Hakimi again at the World Cup.
Not like last week, when the Frenchman went to greet his PSG team-mate at the Morocco team hotel in downtown Doha.
On Wednesday, Mbappé will be covered by Hakimi in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Top scorer in the World Cup (five goals in five games), Mbappé tweeted in January that Hakimi is the best right defender in the world.
Hakimi is a key part of a defense that has conceded only one goal at the World Cup, an own goal.
PHOTO LUCA BRUNO, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Achraf Hakimi and Dani Olmo battling for the ball in the Morocco-Spain match
A beautiful friendship was born in July 2021 when the Moroccan joined Mbappé at Paris Saint-Germain from Inter Milan, for an estimated sum of 63 million dollars.
The two young men quickly got on well.
They were born about six weeks apart in 1998, months after France won a maiden World Cup title.
Hakimi said they have the same taste in music and video games, and that Mbappé helps his friend from Madrid to learn French.
Hakimi is a devout Muslim and for Eid Mubarak this year they teamed up to create a video which was shared by their club.
Hakimi also introduced Mbappé to dishes from northwest Africa. The Frenchman’s mother is of Algerian descent.
On the pitch of the French champions club, they have a series of choreographed handshakes and goal celebrations.
PHOTO FRANCK FIFE, AGENCY FRANCE-PRESSE
Achraf Hakimi and Kylian Mbappé celebrating a goal in October 2021
Playing for PSG gives them many such opportunities.
“It’s easy to play alongside him,” Hakimi said of Mbappé. To give him the ball, knowing that he will make the difference. »
Mbappé scored twice against Denmark in the group stage and also against Poland in the round of 16.
In the quarter-finals on Saturday, Mbappé was neutralized by Englishman Kyle Walker. He fired once and largely missed the target.
The Moroccan defense was steadfast against Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal.
Hakimi helped limit the opposition to 10 shots on target in total.
Mbappe managed 10 shots on target alone for the Blues, whose tally of 11 goals is the best of the four semi-finalists.
France are trying to become the first country to retain their title since Pelé and Brazil in 1962.
Hakimi wants to be among the first African players to reach a World Cup final.
It would be against Croatia or Argentina, whose star Lionel Messi also plays for PSG.