Achraf Hakimi has revealed how Lionel Messi’s arrival at PSG changed the team’s playing style and made life difficult for him, admitting he no longer felt like an important player.

Achraf Hakimi Reveals How Messi’s Arrival Changed Everything at PSG

Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi has made surprising comments about Lionel Messi’s arrival at the club, admitting that the Argentine superstar’s presence completely changed the team’s playing style.

The Moroccan defender’s earlier comments have recently attracted attention again, revealing how difficult his first season in Paris became after Messi joined in 2021.

Hakimi admits Messi changed PSG’s project

Speaking on The Bridge podcast in comments originally reported in April 2026, Hakimi explained that he had expected to play alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappé when he signed for PSG.

However, he did not know Messi would also be joining the French club.

“When Messi arrived, the project changed. The style of play became different,” Hakimi explained.

The defender admitted that the change forced him to play differently and reduced his opportunities to attack.

Hakimi admits he felt like a small player

Before joining PSG, Hakimi had enjoyed an attacking role at Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan.

However, playing alongside Messi, Neymar and Mbappé meant he had to focus more on defending.

“I felt like a small player,” Hakimi admitted.

He also revealed that he was no longer enjoying football as much because he could not play the way he wanted.

Hakimi struggled with criticism at PSG

The Moroccan international explained that his situation became even more difficult because he had a much bigger role with his national team.

Fans often questioned why he performed so well for Morocco but struggled to show the same level at PSG.

Hakimi admitted that the criticism affected him mentally as he tried to adapt to the team’s new playing style.

However, his comments focused on the tactical changes at PSG rather than any personal problem with Messi.

His revelations offer a different view of what life was like inside PSG’s star-filled squad during Messi’s two seasons in Paris.