Achraf Hakimi's first career hat trick against Le Havre was an extraordinary individual achievement, but the more interesting story is what it revealed about his role in Paris Saint-Germain's attack.
The Moroccan right back scored three goals and provided two assists as PSG came from behind to win 5–1 on October 30, and that's because he was directly involved in every goal, producing a performance that went far beyond the usual expectations of a defender.
However, reducing the display to five goal contributions would miss an important point.
Hakimi's attacking value comes from how he moves, where he receives the ball, and how his positioning creates problems for opposing defences.
Under Luis Enrique, he is not simply a right back who occasionally joins the attack; he is regularly given the freedom to operate much higher up the pitch, sometimes occupying spaces normally associated with a winger or forward.
His performance against Le Havre offered an excellent example of why that approach can be so effective.
Hakimi's Position Is Only Part of the Story
A traditional right back is primarily expected to defend the right side, support attacks when opportunities arise, and provide width when the team moves forward.
Hakimi offers those qualities, but his responsibilities at PSG go further.
When his team has possession, he can push forward to stretch the opposition's defensive line, make runs behind defenders, or move into advanced attacking positions.
This creates an additional option for PSG and forces opponents to make difficult decisions about who should track him.
Against Le Havre, Hakimi repeatedly found opportunities to attack the space behind the defensive line. His movement was particularly important for the opening two goals scored by PSG.
For the equaliser in the 26th minute, he controlled a long pass from Lucas Hernández and delivered the ball into the area for Mika Godts to finish.
Just two minutes later, he changed roles. Rather than supplying the final pass, he became the player attacking the space himself, then Senny Mayulu found him with a through ball, allowing the Moroccan to race towards goal and put PSG ahead.
The two situations demonstrated an important feature of his game, such as how he can create opportunities for teammates and become the attacking threat himself.
Luis Enrique Gives Him the Freedom to Attack
Hakimi's performance also reflects the way Luis Enrique wants PSG to operate.
The tactical breakdown of the match describes PSG using a three player defensive base with an additional midfielder in front during possession.
Further forward, the team could position several players between Le Havre's midfield and defensive lines, while Hakimi provided width and attacking runs on the right.
This structure matters because it gives Hakimi room to advance without requiring him to carry the entire responsibility for building attacks from deep.
His teammates help create the conditions for those forward runs. Midfielders can draw opponents towards the ball, attackers can occupy defenders, and Hakimi can exploit the space that becomes available.
That does not mean he is free to attack without defensive responsibilities.
PSG still need players to protect the spaces left behind when their full backs move forward. The balance between attacking freedom and defensive security is an important part of making this system work.
Le Havre's defensive structure struggled to contain PSG's movement between the lines and the runs into space.
Hakimi benefited from those openings, but his timing and ability to exploit them were equally important.
Three Goals, Two Assists and Different Ways to Hurt an Opponent
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Hakimi's performance was the variety of his contributions.
His first goal came from a run behind the defence, finishing Mayulu's through ball in the 28th minute, and his second arrived from a free kick in the 55th minute.
He showed that his attacking contribution is not limited to overlapping runs or receiving passes in open space, and that he could also provide a direct threat from a setpiece situation.
The third goal, in the 69th minute, came after Godts' low cross. Hakimi's initial effort was saved by goalkeeper Arnaud Bodart, but the ball rebounded off his right thigh and crossed the line.
Between those goals, he supplied another assist, setting up Mayulu during a PSG counterattack in the 62nd minute.
The numbers underline the scale of his performance.
According to Sofascore, Hakimi recorded six shots, five on target, three big chances created and three key passes. He completed 57 of 63 passes and played 70 minutes before being substituted.
These figures are important because they show that his influence was not restricted to finishing attacks. He was also involved in creating opportunities and connecting PSG's attacking play.
Why Hakimi's Performance Matters for PSG
PSG already possesses players capable of producing goals and assists from advanced positions. Hakimi's contribution gives Luis Enrique another way to create attacking advantages.
When a full back can consistently threaten the opposition's defensive line, the opposing winger and full back must pay attention to his movement, and that can create additional space for PSG's other attackers.
It also gives the team more flexibility. Hakimi can stay wide to stretch the defence, move forward into the penalty area or combine with teammates in the right sided attacking channel.
His performance against Le Havre demonstrated how difficult he can be to manage when PSG's movement and passing are working well.
There is, however, an important distinction between an exceptional match and consistent performance over a season.
Hakimi had not registered a Ligue 1 goal contribution in his first seven league appearances of the 2026–27 campaign before this match, according to beIN SPORTS.
His display was remarkable, but it should not be treated as proof that he will produce five goal contributions every week.
The bigger point is that PSG have a right back whose attacking qualities can change the way opponents defend against them.
Is Hakimi Becoming More of an Attacker Than a Defender?
Luis Enrique offered an interesting assessment after the match, describing Hakimi as the best right back in the world and suggesting that he plays more like a striker when PSG have possession.
That comment reflects the Moroccan's attacking responsibilities, but it should not be interpreted too literally.
Hakimi remains a defender, but his position, defensive duties, and responsibility to help protect the right side have not disappeared.
What makes him special is his ability to contribute at both ends of the pitch while operating in a system that allows him to attack aggressively.
The distinction is important because a player does not become a better full back simply because he scores more goals.
He must still contribute defensively, understand when to advance and recognise when the team needs him to hold his position.
His attacking output against Le Havre was exceptional, and whether he can maintain that influence while continuing to fulfil his defensive responsibilities is what makes his development at PSG worth following.
Sportivoza Verdict
Achraf Hakimi's performance against Le Havre was more than an impressive hat trick because it demonstrated how an attacking full back can become a major part of a team's goal creation without abandoning the responsibilities of his position.
His three goals and two assists showed his finishing, movement and creativity, while PSG's tactical structure helped him find the spaces to make those qualities count.
For Luis Enrique, having a defender capable of influencing a match so heavily in the final third is a valuable attacking advantage.
Hakimi does not need to become a striker to have that impact because his ability to attack from right back is precisely what makes him such a difficult player for opponents to contain.