African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi has been included in Morocco manager Walid Regragui's squad for Afcon 2025.
The Paris Saint-Germain right-back suffered an injury last month from a challenge by Luis Diaz in a Champions League game against Bayern Munich. He has been in rehabilitation since.
Hakimi is part of the 26-man squad for the tournament, but is likely to miss some of the group stages with his injury.
After coming sixth in the Ballon D'Or, Hakimi has been one of the world's outstanding fullbacks for years now.
Initially coming through Real Madrid's academy, it was only his lung-busting performances for Borussia Dortmund that brought the spotlight.
A season at Inter Milan was enough for PSG to come calling in 2021, where he has spent the last five seasons.
For the Atlas Lions, he is so often the talisman. Like when his penalty secured a historic win over Spain in the 2022 World Cup Round of 16.
The 27-year-old already has 88 caps to his name. Therefore will hope to add to Morocco's singular major trophy, Afcon 1976.
With such a rare opportunity to play a major championship in his home country. The football world will breathe a sigh of relief that he can compete.
There are plenty of other big names in Morocco's squad, as you might expect from the world's 11th-best team.
Al-Hilal's Yassine Bounou is a world-renowned goalkeeper. Whilst in front of him, Nayef Aguerd and Noussair Mazraoui start for top European clubs, in Marseille and Manchester United.
Bilal El Khannouss is a vital midfield cog for Bundesliga challengers Stuttgart. Algonside him, Sofyan Amrabat and Azzedine Ounahi both enjoyed an extraordinary 2022 World Cup, earning big-money moves.
Up front, Youssef En-Nesyri and Ayoub El Kaabi offer premier international experience.
Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz could prove the difference throughout the knockout stages, flanked by in-form Sunderland winger Chemsdine Talbi.
But with Achraf Hakimi included, the squad really does move up a level.
