Moroccan Achraf Hakimi continues to cement his status as one of the biggest names in European football. The Paris Saint-Germain right-back featured in Wednesday's win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, moving up to fourth among African players for Champions League appearances.
Hakimi has now played 79 matches in Europe's premier club competition, overtaking legendary Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, who made 78 appearances. The pair also share another impressive record, with three Champions League titles each - more than any other African player.
Already a hugely successful player at just 27, Hakimi has represented four clubs in the competition: Real Madrid , Borussia Dortmund , Inter Milan and current club PSG .
Only three African players have made more Champions League appearances than the Morocco international.
At the top of the list is Ivorian legend Didier Drogba , the former Chelsea striker who played 102 matches in the competition, most of them in a Blues shirt. Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah is second with 98 appearances, with the majority coming during his time at Liverpool.
Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien completes the top three with 86 appearances. The former Chelsea favourite also represented Real Madrid and AC Milan during his career.
With Hakimi still a regular starter for PSG and plenty of years ahead of him, the Moroccan is closing the gap quickly. If he maintains his current trajectory, it may only be a matter of time before he becomes the most-capped African player in Champions League history.
Most Champions League appearances by African players:
Mohamed Salah - 98 matches
Didier Drogba - 92 matches
Michael Essien - 81 matches
Achraf Hakimi - 79 matches
Samuel Eto'o - 78 matches
