Achraf Hakimi, one of the most outstanding footballers of his generation, has confessed that his greatest passion off the field has nothing to do with the ball. The Paris Saint-Germain full-back, 26 years old, has explained that he devotes part of his time to boxing, a sport that, according to him, helps him release tension. His revelation has drawn attention because it shows an unknown side of a player who has always been linked to top-level soccer.
Hakimi stated that boxing has been part of his training routine for some time and that he practices it with discipline. This activity allows him to work on endurance, strength, and concentration, aspects that are also essential to football performance. However, he made it clear that he does it as a parallel hobby and that he doesn't intend to take it to a competitive level.
What's curious is that this passion for boxing began during his relationship with actress Hiba Abouk, with whom he shared training sessions. At that time, the couple found in this sport a common activity that strengthened their personal bond.
Now, after the separation, Hakimi keeps that habit, showing that boxing has become an important part of his life apart from his failed marriage. "What I do has nothing to do with soccer," he commented on the matter. Nevertheless, in one way or another, it helps him on the field.
Achraf Hakimi's favorite sport
The Moroccan footballer explained that, although many may associate him only with his sports career in soccer, he needs other ways to escape. In his words, boxing gives him the opportunity to mentally disconnect from the pressure of the stadiums and the demands that come with playing for a club like PSG. That disconnection, according to him, is key to being able to perform at his best on the field afterward.
His confession also reflects the importance that many elite athletes give to complementary activities. Just as others have found in golf, tennis, or even chess a pastime to clear their minds, Hakimi has chosen a discipline of great physical intensity. The choice of boxing is still significant, because it conveys values such as self-improvement and endurance that fit his play style.
The fact that he practiced it at the time with Hiba Abouk has also caused comments in the media sphere. During their relationship, images in which both appeared together in sports activities, showing complicity and commitment, were frequent. After their breakup, Hakimi has wanted to make it clear that he continues with that hobby, although now he does it independently.
The separation of Hakimi and Abouk was one of the most talked-about episodes in the social chronicle of recent years. However, the footballer seems determined to move on and focus both on his professional career and his personal well-being. In this sense, boxing represents for him not only an alternative sport, but also a form of emotional stability at a key moment.