Mbappé to Face Good Friend Hakimi in World Cup Semifinal 

Achraf Hakimi and Kylian Mbappé. (AFP)
Achraf Hakimi and Kylian Mbappé. (AFP)
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Mbappé to Face Good Friend Hakimi in World Cup Semifinal 

Achraf Hakimi and Kylian Mbappé. (AFP)
Achraf Hakimi and Kylian Mbappé. (AFP)

Kylian Mbappé is going to meet his good friend Achraf Hakimi again at this World Cup. 

Not like the first time in Qatar last week, when the France star went to visit his Paris Saint-Germain teammate at the Morocco team hotel in downtown Doha. 

On Wednesday, Mbappé will be marked by Hakimi in a World Cup semifinal — his path to Morocco’s well-defended goal down the French left wing blocked by a player he rates highly. 

“ACHRAF HAKIMI. BEST RB IN THE WORLD,” Mbappé wrote in English on his Twitter account in January, referring to the right back position Hakimi occupies for club and country. 

It is a high-level duel as both approach a World Cup summit that would be historic for either team. 

Mbappé versus Hakimi — the tournament’s top scorer with five goals in five games against the standout talent in the tournament-best defense that has conceded just once, and it was an own-goal. 

It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship when the Moroccan player joined Mbappé at PSG in July 2021 from Inter Milan for a transfer fee reported to be 60 million euros ($63 million). 

Two young men born within several weeks of each other in 1998 — just a few months after France won its first World Cup title — soon got along. 

Hakimi has talked of how they share the same tastes in music and video games, and that Mbappé helps his Madrid-born friend learn French. 

Hakimi is a devout Muslim and for the Eid Mubarak holiday this year they teamed up for a video shared by their club. Hakimi guided Mbappé, who has family ties to Morocco’s north African neighbor Algeria, through tasting food from the Arab region. 

On the field for the French champion, they have a series of rehearsed handshakes and goal celebrations. Playing for PSG gives them many opportunities. 

“It’s easy to play with a player like him,” Hakimi has said of Mbappé. “To give him the ball, knowing that he will make the difference.” 

Mbappé has been the difference at this World Cup, especially when he scored twice in wins over Denmark in the group stage and Poland in the round of 16. 

In the quarterfinals on Saturday, Mbappé was kept in check about as much as is possible by England’s speedy right back Kyle Walker. He got just one clear shooting chance that went high and wide. 

Still, he was involved in the move that led to France’s first goal in a 2-1 win and the decisive late winner followed a corner on the left flank that he helped create. 

Morocco’s defense has stood like an immovable force and all its European opponents so far — Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal — failed to score in four full games plus extra time for the Spanish. 

Hakimi has helped limit Morocco’s opponents to just 10 goal attempts on target combined, according to FIFA post-game statistics. Canada got an own-goal from defender Nayef Aguerd in a 2-1 win for Morocco. 

Mbappé, meanwhile, has had 10 shots on target just by himself for a France team whose 11-goal total is the best of the four semifinalists. 

At Al Khor Stadium on Wednesday, Mbappé continues pursuing his goal of being the youngest player besides Pelé to have two World Cup titles. France can become the first to retain its title since Pelé and Brazil in 1962. 

Hakimi wants to be among the first African players to reach a World Cup final. That would be against either Croatia or Argentina, whose star Lionel Messi also plays for Qatar-owned PSG. 

May the best friend win. 



Alonso Quiet on Leverkusen Future amid Real Madrid Links

 Leverkusen's head coach Xabier Alonso celebrates at the end of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and FC Augsburg at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP)
Leverkusen's head coach Xabier Alonso celebrates at the end of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and FC Augsburg at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP)
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Alonso Quiet on Leverkusen Future amid Real Madrid Links

 Leverkusen's head coach Xabier Alonso celebrates at the end of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and FC Augsburg at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP)
Leverkusen's head coach Xabier Alonso celebrates at the end of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and FC Augsburg at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP)

Xabi Alonso kept his cards close to his chest when questioned about his future as Bayer Leverkusen boss as the Spaniard on Friday declined to comment on reports linking him to the Real Madrid job.

Spanish media have reported that Alonso is a frontrunner to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real if the Italian leaves the LaLiga club after a poor season despite having one more year on his contract.

Alonso previously played under Ancelotti at Real, where he spent five seasons, helping the Spanish club win the Champions League after a gap of 12 years before moving to Bayern Munich.

"My future? Nothing new to say, the answer remains the same. We have to wait," Alonso told reporters ahead of Sunday's trip to Freiburg.

"Communication with the club is still good. There is clarity between everyone."

Alonso became hot property last season when he guided Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga season as they won their first league title in the club's history while also lifting the German Cup and reaching the Europa League final.

Although Leverkusen have not been able to defend their title in the same dominant fashion, with leaders Bayern Munich one win away from being crowned champions, Alonso still hopes to complete a memorable season.

"It's still the second-best season in the club's history and we want to continue pursuing this goal," he said.

Leverkusen play a Freiburg side who are fourth in the standings and fighting for Champions League spots.

"They have that chance and they will certainly be extra motivated. But that's not a problem for us because it also motivates us a lot when we know that the opposing team is determined to beat us," Alonso said.

"This battle is very exciting to watch at the moment. In the remaining three games, we only have Freiburg, (Borussia) Dortmund and Mainz as opponents who are fighting for European spots. They will be intense games for us again."

But the visitors could be without Nigerian forward Victor Boniface, who has scored 11 times in all competitions this season.

"He felt something in his thigh muscles yesterday and didn't train today," Alonso said. "We'll see if he's available for Sunday."