Achraf Hakimi’s Heartbreak: When Bayern’s Diaz Sent PSG’s Star Limping Off in Tears
The Champions League has seen its fair share of brutal moments, but what happened to Achraf Hakimi during PSG’s clash with Bayern Munich was genuinely tough to watch. The Moroccan defender left the Parc des Princes on crutches, tears streaming down his face after a reckless challenge from Luis Diaz left him clutching his ankle in agony. And honestly? The timing couldn’t be worse.
Let’s be real—Hakimi didn’t just suffer a knock. This looked serious. The kind of serious that has PSG fans nervously refreshing their phones for injury updates and Morocco supporters wondering if their captain will miss AFCON on home soil. No pressure, right?
What Happened to Hakimi During the Match?
Picture this: It’s just before halftime at the Parc des Princes. Bayern Munich is already up 2-0, thanks to a brace from—you guessed it—Luis Diaz. The Colombian winger was having the game of his life until he decided to throw it all away with one of the most reckless tackles you’ll see this season.
Diaz lunged in on Hakimi with both feet, catching the PSG defender’s ankle in a challenge that made everyone wince. The referee initially flashed a yellow card (really?), but VAR quickly stepped in to correct that nonsense. Red card. Off you go, Luis.
But the damage was done. Hakimi was left writhing on the turf, clearly in serious pain. Medical staff rushed over, and after a few agonizing minutes, the defender had to be helped off the field. The cameras caught him wiping away tears as he hobbled toward the tunnel—a heartbreaking sight for anyone who’s ever loved this game.
PSG captain Marquinhos tried to stay diplomatic after the match, saying they’d need to “wait for the tests” before knowing the full extent of the injury. Translation? They’re worried, and so should we be.
Hakimi’s AFCON Dreams Now Hang in the Balance
Here’s where this gets really brutal for Hakimi. The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in December, and it’s being hosted in Morocco. This isn’t just any tournament for the defender—it’s the tournament. Playing on home soil, captaining his national team, with millions of Moroccan fans dreaming of lifting the trophy? That’s the stuff careers are defined by.
Hakimi himself talked about how much this means to him earlier this year: “The tournament is approaching fast, and it remains our top priority. We have a big responsibility to win it in front of our fans.”
Now imagine being this close to that dream, only to have it potentially ripped away by a two-footed lunge from a Bayern Munich winger having the game of his life. Football can be cruel sometimes.
The images of Hakimi leaving the stadium on crutches, wearing a protective boot, didn’t exactly inspire confidence either. When you see a player needing that kind of support immediately after an injury, you know it’s not just a minor knock that’ll heal in a few days.
Diaz Makes Unwanted Champions League History
Meanwhile, Luis Diaz went from hero to villain in the space of about 30 seconds. Sure, he’d scored twice to put Bayern in control, but that red card? That’ll sting. And here’s a fun (read: not fun at all) fact—Diaz became only the second player in Champions League history to score twice and get sent off in the same match. The only other player to achieve this dubious honor?
Antoine Griezmann, back in 2021 against Liverpool.
Congratulations, Luis. That’s one record you probably didn’t want.
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany tried to be diplomatic after the match, saying: “I hope Hakimi recovers quickly. We know how it feels to have an injured player like Jamal Musiala. This can happen in a match with this intensity.”
Nice sentiment, Vincent, but I’m not sure PSG fans are in the mood to hear about “match intensity” right now. Their star defender is on crutches, and your player put him there.
PSG’s Injury Crisis Deepens
As if losing Hakimi wasn’t bad enough, PSG also had to withdraw Ousmane Dembele in the first half. The French winger looked uncomfortable after what would have been the opener (VAR ruled it offside), and he was quickly subbed off.
Luis Enrique, PSG’s manager, didn’t have much to offer in terms of updates: “I don’t know. I think it has nothing to do with the previous injury. It’s something new. We need to be very careful.”
Translation? PSG’s injury situation is officially a disaster, and they’re running out of bodies. Dembele had already missed six weeks earlier this season with a hamstring issue. Now this? The football gods clearly have it out for PSG right now.
What This Means for PSG and Morocco
For PSG, losing Hakimi is massive. He’s been one of their most consistent performers, bombing up and down that right flank with the kind of energy that makes opposition wingers have nightmares. Finding someone to fill that void, even temporarily, won’t be easy.
But for Morocco? This could be catastrophic. Hakimi isn’t just another player—he’s their captain, their leader, their best defender. Hosting AFCON without him would be like… well, it would be like hosting a party and not being able to attend. The whole nation is counting on him to lead them to glory, and now there’s a very real chance he won’t even be there.
The next few days will be crucial as PSG waits for test results. Everyone—from Parisian fans to Moroccan supporters—will be holding their breath, hoping the news isn’t as bad as it looked. Because if Hakimi is facing months on the sidelines, it’s not just his season that’s in jeopardy. It’s his dreams, his country’s dreams, and one of the most anticipated AFCON tournaments in recent memory.
Football can be beautiful. But sometimes, like on that cold November night in Paris, it can break your heart in an instant.
