PSG ace Kylian Mbappe has praised his club teammate Achraf Hakimi.
The Moroccan, who's currently away at the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, scored an impeccable free-kick to give his side the win against Malawi last night.
With the clock winding down and the match still tied at 1-1, the Atlas Lions wanted a moment of inspiration from their star man and he didn't disappoint.
Standing over a dead ball from roughly 30-yards out, the 23-year-old whipped one into the far post with unerring accuracy to make it 2-1 for his side.
Malawi were unable to come back into the match thereafter as Morocco advanced into the quarter-finals.
It was a brilliant piece of individual skill, so much so that even Mbappe couldn't help but wax lyrical about him.
He took to Twitter to hail Hakimi as the best right-back in the world.
"ACHRAF HAKIMI. BEST RB IN THE WORLD. GOOD NIGHT GUYS."
The tweet immediately sparked a firestorm, with many fans echoing Mbappe's sentiments. Some even urged the Moroccan to take over PSG's free-kick duties from Lionel Messi.
PSG star stepping up for Morocco in Ziyech's absence
Also, this wasn't a flash in the pan performance from the PSG man. Hakimi had scored a similar goal in the previous match against Gabon and interestingly, from the same position!
The former Real Madrid defender went for the goal directly on that occasion too and clinically dispatched the free-kick to equalize for his side in the 84th minute.
It secured the Atlas Lions a point to progress into the knockout stages as Group C winners and he's now proved to be their hero in the Round of 16 match again.
Morocco had their task cut out without their playmaker Hakim Ziyech, who was not included in the AFCON squad by head coach Vahid Halilhodzic.
The Chelsea star fell out with the Bosnian last year over a disciplinary issue and he's been frozen out ever since.
While it's a big loss, Hakimi has stepped up to the plate for them in his absence, demonstrating his ability to lead them with valuable contributions.
He's struck twice in the tournament, both from free-kicks, and is the joint top-scorer in the Moroccan squad as well as the top scoring defender in the competition.
With a daunting fixture against Ivory Coast or Egypt coming up next in the last-8, Morocco will look up to him for inspiration.
weceikru
0
1.Arnold 2nd. Joao Cancelo. 3rd.Hakimi 4th.REECE JAMES 5TH. Pavard. 1110th. Aaron Wan Bissaka
ticacdksty
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Some Say Hakimi, Some Say RecceJames, Some Say A.Arnold, Some Say Pavard,But I Say JOAO CANCELO✅🔥
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cancelo is a left back[Crylaugh]
Vabballer2k6
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on a good day Walker is something else, maybe he's struggling due to form issue
yea that's y I said he is good but inconsistent
midestivah
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Cancelo when he plays RB is by far the best... 2nd Reece James Then Trent... TAA cannot defend..... Kyle Walker has Fell Off... N Lacks Consistency
on a good day Walker is something else, maybe he's struggling due to form issue
Ditbcinpuy
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so what about David Beckham?
Gunners4ever❤
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Cancelo when he plays RB is by far the best... 2nd Reece James Then Trent... TAA cannot defend..... Kyle Walker has Fell Off... N Lacks Consistency
I agree!
Vabballer2k6
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Alexander Arnold
Is This a Joke... He Can't defend
Vabballer2k6
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Alexander Arnold is a joke to you right? Arnold has done that free kick of a thing so many times, so no doubt 🤷🏻♂️😂
Offensively But Trent Cannot Defend... He Is Very Poor Defensively But His Offensive Ability Hides His Poor Defense... Most Of Liverpool Goals Come From Left Side Attacks
Vabballer2k6
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Go and ask about Alexander Arnold
Trent Cannot Defend to save his life. this boy very weak defensively....His Offensive Ability Hides His defensive weakness
Vabballer2k6
1
Kyle Walker is the best, follow by Reece James, TAA, scoring free-kick is special but that isn't the duty of a RB, it is a plus but can he perform the duty of RB like those I mentioned? no,he can't attack like any of them and he can't defend like them, so my conclusion scoring free-kick doesn't make him the best in the RB position
Cancelo when he plays RB is by far the best... 2nd Reece James Then Trent... TAA cannot defend..... Kyle Walker has Fell Off... N Lacks Consistency
midestivah
3
Kyle Walker is the best, follow by Reece James, TAA, scoring free-kick is special but that isn't the duty of a RB, it is a plus but can he perform the duty of RB like those I mentioned? no,he can't attack like any of them and he can't defend like them, so my conclusion scoring free-kick doesn't make him the best in the RB position
oluwagoddy
2
Chaker Alhadur who is originally a left back forgot that he was playing as the goalkeeper and put his hands at back for Cameroon's 2nd Goal ⚽️😁 #footballchallenge
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lol... funny but sad tho hahahah
danmusa015
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Chaker Alhadur who is originally a left back forgot that he was playing as the goalkeeper and put his hands at back for Cameroon's 2nd Goal ⚽️😁 #footballchallenge
_▪︎_
3
Some Say Hakimi, Some Say RecceJames, Some Say A.Arnold, Some Say Pavard,But I Say JOAO CANCELO✅🔥
subra101
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Cancelo Can play in any position 🍆
bezeimntyz
1
Go and ask about Alexander Arnold
londonboy10
1
Alexander Arnold is a joke to you right? Arnold has done that free kick of a thing so many times, so no doubt 🤷🏻♂️😂
YCEEog
7
BEST TIKI TAKA DOMINATIONS IN THE WORLD ❤️❤️
kokbcikprs
1
Alexander Arnold