In the Qatar World Cup an unlikely hero was born. No his name is not Ronaldo or Kane or Messi. It was Achraf Hakimi, the Moroccan defender whose decisive penalty saw his team overcome Spain in the round of 16 at the World Cup, and then led his team into the semi-finals. His is a truly inspirational rags-to-riches story. This is a player who came from nowhere to rise to the top of the sport; a man whose humble background is living proof that you can achieve anything if you have the right support, drive and determination. He had the humblest of upbringings in Madrid, with his mother a cleaner, his father a street vendor, and the family constantly living on the breadline. Yet, despite their hardships, his parents did everything they could to make their son’s football dream come true. And the dream has certainly come true with Hakimi now regarded as one of the best right-backs in world football, a regular with star-studded Paris Saint-Germain and a national hero in Morocco. He once said of his parents: “They sacrificed everything for me. Today I fight every day for them.” Interestingly, Hakimi could have been playing for Spain, the country of his birth, but instead, he chose to represent Morocco, a considerably less glamourous option, as a tribute to his parents, who immigrated to the African country in search of a better life. And how did Hakimi celebrate his historic goal? Not by milking the moment or trying to bask in the glory. No, he ran over to the side of the pitch and into the stands to hug his mother. I don’t think there was a nicer, more heart-warming story than the tale of Achraf Hakimi. I hope he inspires many other young lads to follow their dreams. And for parents to give them their support to do so. Morocco plays France in the second semi-final today, with the winner meeting Argentina on Sunday in the final.
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