The one between France and Morocco was a special match for Mbappé and Hakimi, best friends. Many exciting moments before, during and after the World Cup semi-final.
Turn on notifications to receive updates on
Kylian Mbappe is about to blow out 24 candles on the cake. A birthday that the star of the French national team hopes to celebrate with the second world title of his young and already exceptional career. The last hurdle, the most difficult to overcome, is represented by PSG team-mate Leo Messi’s Argentina, who he will have to face in the final scheduled for Sunday. Speaking of locker room mates, the transalpine striker has already experienced a very particular confrontation, with what is almost a brother to him, namely Achrafi Hakimiin the semi-final of Qatar 2022. There was no shortage of exciting moments.
Already in January, during a visit to Qatar, the two had joked about a possible confrontation between France and Morocco at the World Cup. Destiny wanted that prediction to materialize by putting the two face to face in the semi-final of the tournament. The playful bravado shown on that occasion by Mbappé gave way to truly unforgettable moments, photography of the beauty of sport.
After the messages of esteem and affection of the past few days, the two began their confrontation with a beautiful and affectionate greeting in the tunnel before entering the pitch to battle it out. No discounts on the pitch where Mbappé and his compatriots prevailed, despite the great generosity of Hakimi and a Morocco that was never tamed and capable of trying until the end, against the most popular vice-champions of the world.
A man moves Argentina, he is sitting in front of a shop window: “Give him a TV”
Immediately after the final whistle, obviously the two teams experienced diametrically opposite emotions. Irrepressible joy in France for the last act of the World Cup won, disappointment for the African team who dreamed of a further exploit in Qatari land. Cameras focused on the two friends, with Hakimi sitting on the pitch, heartbroken by the defeat. At that point, Mbappé decided not to participate immediately in the Les Bleus celebrations to console the ex Inter winger.
After approaching his friend, the attacker lifted him with both arms inviting him to stand up. A prolonged embrace between the two, which was repeated a few minutes later with the exchange of the shirt. And as Hakimi left the pitch in his France kit, Mbappé joined the rest of his squad to greet the fans and celebrate victory wearing his Moroccan friend’s shirt backwards, then with his name on the chest and in the foreground. A real tribute.
Almost unable to stay apart, the two then also found themselves in the locker room: a tunnel immortalized the two teammates at PSG, sitting in the tunnel and intent on talking side by side. The rivalry, therefore, very healthy, lasted only 90 minutes as also confirmed by Mbappé’s post on Instagram after the match: “Don’t be sad brother, everyone is proud of what you’ve done, you’ve made history“, with reference to the first World Cup semifinal reached by an African team. And Hakimi’s answer was not long in coming: “I love you brother“.
A scene that reconciles with the healthiest values of sport, one of the most beautiful of this particular World Cup which is now drawing to a close and which confirms that the two friends cannot stay apart. And who knows, Mbappé and Hakimi will not find themselves celebrating: the first for the possible victory of the title, the second for the third place that he will compete with Croatia.
