Achraf Hakimi just reached a huge personal milestone in his international career, earning his 94th cap for Morocco. By doing so, he’s officially caught up to the legendary Ahmed Faras. It’s a massive achievement that really shows how important he’s become for the national team.
The Paris Saint-Germain full-back made that mark during the friendly against Ecuador on March 27. He’s now tied for second on Morocco’s all-time appearance list.
With 94 caps, Hakimi now sits just behind Noureddine Naybet, who remains Morocco’s most capped player with 115 appearances.
At 27, Hakimi is now only 21 matches away from equaling that record — and given Morocco’s busy schedule with upcoming international fixtures and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he’s in a strong position to reach or potentially surpass it in the near future.
This record is special. Matching a legend like Faras, one of the greatest figures in Moroccan football history, proves Hakimi belongs at the very top. What really stands out is his consistency and longevity. It’s especially impressive given his role as a full-back rather than an attacking player.
🇲🇦 Joueurs ayant disputé le plus de matchs avec le #Maroc :
115- Noureddine Naybet
94- Ahmed Faras
94- ACHRAF HAKIMI #MarocEquateur— Stats Foot (@Statsdufoot) March 27, 2026
On track for history
Hakimi has been incredibly consistent since he joined the team in 2016. He’s now a vital player who does a bit of everything, from defending to creating chances up front.
He also played a huge role in Morocco’s recent success, including their 2025 AFCON title, officially awarded in March 2026, making him an even bigger star for the Atlas Lions.
Looking ahead, the timeline for Hakimi to break the record is already taking shape. With one more friendly against the Paraguay national football team at the end of March, followed by the World Cup this summer, where Morocco could play anywhere between three and seven matches, his total is expected to rise quickly.
If he maintains his usual rhythm of around 12 to 15 international appearances per year, Hakimi could reach the 100-cap mark during or shortly after the World Cup. After the World Cup, Morocco will quickly move into the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, with six official matches scheduled between September and November 2026, along with two to four additional friendlies before the end of the year. That puts the total for late 2026 at around eight to ten matches.
In 2027, the schedule could become heavier. Morocco are expected to play about two matches in March, followed by the 2027 AFCON, where they are guaranteed at least three games in the group stage and up to seven if they reach the final. A few more fixtures are also likely towards the end of the year.
Altogether, Morocco could play between 11 and 20 matches in 2027 alone. So Noureddine Naybet’s record of 115 appearances is realistically within reach by late 2027 or early 2028.
If he stays fit, it now feels inevitable that he will become the most capped player the country has ever seen.
