Achraf Hakimi scored the first hat-trick of his career and created two more goals as a heavily rotated Paris Saint-Germain came from a goal down to thrash bottom club Le Havre 5-1 at the Stade Océane on Friday night, moving four points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
A right-back running the whole show
Le Havre, winless all season and rooted to the foot of the table, dared to dream on 18 minutes. Ferran Torres had just missed a chance at one end when the hosts broke at speed, Rayan Fofana crossing low for Josh Maja to tap in at the far post.
The lead lasted eight minutes. Lucas Hernandez picked out Hakimi with a long pass over the top, the Moroccan crossed, and Mika Godts slid in the equaliser. Two minutes later PSG were ahead, Senny Mayulu splitting the defence for Hakimi to curl in at the near post — a goal given after a long VAR delay overturned an offside call.
Hakimi struck again ten minutes after the break, curling a direct free-kick low around the wall and past Arnaud Bodart. Maja then headed against the post for Le Havre and, 15 seconds later, Hakimi sent Mayulu clear to round the stranded Bodart and roll in the fourth. The hat-trick arrived on 69 minutes: Hakimi's first effort from Godts' delivery was saved, but the rebound bounced in off him. Luis Enrique substituted him straight away, his work done.
Three goals, two assists, one statement
The numbers are absurd for a full-back. Three goals, two assists and a direct hand in all five PSG goals, as the match reports from Flashscore and 101GreatGoals both underline. Hakimi was named man of the match, collected perfect 10/10 ratings, and walked off to an ovation from a crowd that had come to watch someone else entirely.
This was the first hat-trick of Hakimi's career, and it came in a rotated side. PSG's fringe players had a point to prove and their captain made sure nobody could ignore the performance around him.
So what?
The win moves PSG four points clear at the top of Ligue 1, and it does so in the most ominous way possible for their rivals: the champions can rotate, fall behind and still win by four. The title race already feels like a procession unless somebody finds a way to hurt them.
For Le Havre, the picture darkens. Didier Digard's side remain the only winless team in the division, have not won a home league game since February, and face a weekend in which their relegation rivals can pull further away. PSG, meanwhile, have now won 12 of their last 13 meetings with Le Havre.
Hakimi's form also sharpens the wider PSG conversation. With the club linked to Chelsea's Estêvão for January and their women's side drawing with Manchester City Women in Europe this week, the men's captain is setting the standard every other Paris story is measured against.
Beyond the Final Whistle verdict: defenders are not supposed to decide games like this. Hakimi did not just play Le Havre — he authored the match, goal by goal, assist by assist. If this is what PSG's captain produces on a rotated Friday night against the bottom club, the rest of Ligue 1 is playing for second place. Is Hakimi now the best full-back in world football? Let us know in the comments.
