Moroccan football star Achraf Hakimi will face trial in France over a rape allegation linked to a 2023 incident, after a French appeals court confirmed on Friday that the case will proceed to a criminal court.

The ruling represents a major legal development for the Paris Saint-Germain defender, although no date has yet been fixed for the start of the trial.

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Hakimi, who has consistently denied all allegations, remains one of the most high-profile African players in world football and a key figure for both club and country.

Allegation dates back to 2023

The case began in February 2023, when a 24-year-old woman reported to police in the Val-de-Marne region, southeast of Paris, that she was raped at Hakimi’s residence.

Investigators say the woman claimed she met Hakimi on Instagram and later visited his home in a taxi allegedly arranged by him.

She further alleged that unwanted advances were made before the situation escalated, adding that she managed to push him away and later contacted a friend who came to pick her up.

Hakimi maintains innocence

Following the court ruling on Friday, Hakimi insisted he is ready to defend himself, saying:
“I’ve been waiting for this trial since day one. At last, I’ll be able to speak.”

His lawyer, Fanny Colin, also stressed that the decision does not indicate guilt, stating: “Nothing here says that he is guilty of anything, he remains steadfast in his defence.”

Complainant speaks out

The complainant, identified as “Jeanne,” told French media outlet Mediapart that she is seeking justice and wants her voice heard in court: “I want to defend myself, to be heard. I want to explain myself. I want people to believe me,” she said.

Her lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, described the ruling as bringing “relief and hope” to her client.

A trial date has not yet been announced as the case moves forward in the French judicial system.

The world football governing body, FIFA, has released its latest Power Rankings for the 2026 World Cup following the conclusion of the opening round of group-stage fixtures, with several global stars making early statements in the tournament.

The rankings, powered by advanced analytics, assess players based on attacking output, creativity, and defensive contribution.

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According to FIFA, the system goes beyond goals and assists to measure overall influence in matches, including chance creation, attacking progression, and defensive actions.

Messi tops attacking rankings after hat-trick display

Argentina captain Lionel Messi leads the attacking category after a stunning performance in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria, where he netted a hat-trick and dominated proceedings from start to finish.

According to FIFA, “Messi accounted for 60% of Argentina’s attempts at goal, every shot they had on target and all three of their goals.”

The report further added: “La Albiceleste’s three successful strikes came from 1.58 expected goals (xG), highlighting the efficiency of Messi’s finishing.”

FIFA also noted: “The Inter Miami star’s influence extended well beyond the penalty area, too. He received possession 23 times between Algeria’s midfield and defensive lines and completed 12 line breaks, repeatedly helping Argentina transform possession into danger.”

Global stars dominate attacking top 10
Behind Messi in the attacking rankings are New Zealand’s Elijah Just, France’s Kylian Mbappe, Sweden’s Yasin Ayari, and England captain Harry Kane.

Other notable names include Erling Haaland, Vinicius Junior, Luis Diaz, Alexander Isak, Amad Diallo, and several other standout performers from the opening matches.

Rezaeian leads creativity chart

Iran defender Ramin Rezaeian tops the creativity rankings after an impressive display in Iran’s 2-2 draw with New Zealand, where he played a key role in building attacking moves and influencing transitions.

He is followed by Michael Olise, Florian Wirtz, Lee Kang-in, Julio Enciso, Ryan Gravenberch, Bukayo Saka, Brahim Diaz, and Mohamed Salah, all of whom featured prominently in creative contributions during their opening fixtures.

Cornelius dominates defensive rankings

Canada’s Derek Cornelius leads the defensive category after a commanding performance in Canada’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, helping his side secure a strong result.

He sits ahead of Nikola Katic, Tarik Muharemovic, Xavier Schlager, Tyler Adams, Sidny Lopes Cabral, Amar Dedic, Jesús Gallardo, and Willy Semedo in the defensive rankings.

FIFA explains ranking system

FIFA emphasized that the rankings are designed to reflect more than just traditional statistics.

The body reiterated that player influence is measured across multiple phases of play, including chance creation, attacking build-up, and defensive interventions.

The rankings will continue to be updated throughout the tournament as performances evolve across matches hosted in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Brazil will be without star forward Neymar when they face Haiti in their second Group C match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, as the veteran attacker continues to recover from a calf injury.

The 34-year-old has been sidelined since suffering a right calf injury in late May and has only recently resumed training with the national team.

As a result, he will not travel with the squad to Philadelphia for the encounter against Haiti.

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Neymar was also absent from Brazil’s opening World Cup fixture, which ended in a 1-1 draw against Morocco.

Before the tournament, head coach Carlo Ancelotti had expressed optimism that the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star could return in time to feature against Haiti.

However, Brazil’s coaching staff have decided not to rush his recovery. Reports in Brazilian media indicate that Ancelotti and his team are keen to avoid aggravating the injury and risking Neymar’s availability for the later stages of the competition.

Confirming the development on Thursday, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced that the country’s all-time leading scorer would remain behind in New Jersey to continue his rehabilitation.

In a statement, the federation said Neymar “will remain in New Jersey to make the most of the final stage of his recovery process.”

The Santos forward has endured a challenging season plagued by fitness concerns, featuring in only half of his club’s matches this year.

Neymar has not played for Brazil since October 2023, making his anticipated return one of the major talking points surrounding the five-time world champions at the tournament.

Brazil, who are seeking their first victory after being held by Morocco in their opening match, will be hoping to overcome Haiti without their talismanic playmaker.

The Seleção will round off their Group C campaign against Scotland in Miami on June 24, with hopes that Neymar could be available for selection if his recovery continues as planned.