‘I Felt Like a Small Player’: Achraf Hakimi Opens Up on Tactical Struggles Alongside Lionel Messi at PSG

For most professional footballers, sharing a pitch with Lionel Messi is the pinnacle of a career. But for Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi, the experience of playing alongside the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner at Paris Saint-Germain was far from a dream. In a candid revelation, the right-back admitted that he did not enjoy his time playing with the Argentine superstar, citing a tactical shift that effectively neutralized his greatest strengths.

Speaking on the podcast THE BRIDGE, Hakimi described a frustrating period in the French capital where the arrival of Messi fundamentally altered the club’s approach to the game. Although Messi’s presence created one of the most formidable attacking trios in football history on paper, the real-world application left Hakimi feeling sidelined and restricted in his own role.

The Tactical Cost of Individual Brilliance

Hakimi joined Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021 in a deal worth €68 million, arriving from Inter Milan with a reputation as one of the world’s most dangerous attacking full-backs. His game is built on blistering speed and an elite complete product—traits that had made him a focal point of the attack in Italy and Germany. Although, that trajectory hit a wall shortly after he arrived in Paris.

The issue was not a lack of chemistry, but a change in the “project.” As Hakimi explained, the arrival of Messi shifted the team’s style of play to center entirely around the star-studded front three of Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé. For an attack-first defender, this meant his license to venture forward was revoked.

“The moment he arrives, the Paris Saint-Germain project changes,” Hakimi noted. He revealed that the new system required him to remain deeper and focus on defensive duties rather than contributing to the offensive phase. “So the play style is different; he is there, so I can no longer attack. I have to stay behind. I felt like a ‘small player.’”

By the Numbers: The Impact of the ‘Messi Effect’

The statistical dip in Hakimi’s output during his first season provides a concrete look at how his role was diminished. Before Messi’s integration into the starting lineup, Hakimi was operating as the dynamic threat PSG had signed him to be. In his first five Ligue 1 appearances of the 2021-22 season, he recorded one goal and two assists.

Once the system shifted to accommodate Messi, those numbers plummeted. Between October and mid-March of that same season, Hakimi managed only two assists and zero goals across 13 appearances. The contrast is even more stark when comparing his time in Paris to his previous tenure at Internazionale, where he registered 18 goal contributions in 45 appearances across all competitions.

While Hakimi did reach double figures for goal contributions in his first PSG season—finishing with four goals and six assists—the defender felt the lack of impact. This disparity created a psychological burden, especially as he continued to play a pivotal, attacking role for the Moroccan national team.

“It was demanding for me to be the player that I wanted to be in Paris,” Hakimi admitted, adding that he faced significant criticism from fans and pundits who questioned why he could perform as a primary threat for Morocco but not for his club.

The Struggle for Balance Under Pochettino

The lack of synergy was a recurring theme during Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure. While the “MNM” trio of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé possessed unparalleled individual brilliance, the team struggled to find a functional balance. The tactical gravity of three world-class attackers tended to suck the life out of the supporting cast, particularly the full-backs who typically provide the width and overlap necessary to break down disciplined defenses.

This imbalance is often cited as a reason why PSG famously fell short in European competition during this era. The team had the talent to win any individual match but lacked the cohesive structure required to navigate the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Finding Freedom Under Luis Enrique

The narrative shifted only when the club moved toward a different philosophy. It was under the guidance of Luis Enrique that Hakimi finally reclaimed his identity on the pitch. The transition occurred alongside the departures of both Messi and Neymar, which allowed Enrique to strike a balance between individual talent and collective teamwork.

With the tactical constraints removed, Hakimi blossomed into one of the best right-backs of his generation. The freedom to utilize his pace and final touch returned, proving that the defender’s previous struggles were a byproduct of the system rather than a decline in ability.

For the global football community, Hakimi’s confession serves as a reminder that even the most talented rosters can fail if the tactical architecture does not support every player’s strengths. In the pursuit of assembling a “dream team,” PSG inadvertently shackled one of their most valuable assets.

As the football world continues to analyze the legacy of the star-studded PSG era, Hakimi’s perspective adds a crucial layer of depth to the conversation. It highlights the delicate balance between superstar integration and team functionality.

PSG’s current trajectory remains focused on the balance of teamwork over individual names—a philosophy that has clearly benefited players like Hakimi.

Next Checkpoint: Keep an eye on PSG’s upcoming fixtures in Ligue 1 and the Champions League to spot how Hakimi continues to evolve under the current tactical setup.

Do you suppose PSG sacrificed too much team balance to accommodate superstars like Messi and Neymar? Let us realize your thoughts in the comments.