Achraf Hakimi

Key strength: Pace and recovery

Overlapping full-back

In a season where 1.FC Union Berlin find themselves adrift in 12th place, mired in a miserable run of form that has seen them claim just one point from their last five matches, one man stands as a beacon of world-class excellence: Achraf Hakimi. The 27-year-old Moroccan right-back has been nothing short of transformative for Die Eisernen, featuring in 25 matches while contributing an extraordinary 3 goals and 7 assists from defensive territory—remarkable attacking returns that rank him among the club's most potent creative forces. Valued at a staggering €80 million, a figure that dwarfs virtually every teammate in Urs Fischer's squad, Hakimi represents the elite tier of modern full-backs. His 75-rated defensive capabilities anchor Union's vulnerable backline, yet it's his explosive pace and relentless overlapping runs that truly unlock opposing defenses. With just a single yellow card across 2,034 minutes of combat, he combines aggression with impeccable discipline. While teammates Gabriel Jesus and Dušan Vlahović battle to convert chances upfront, it's often Hakimi's auxiliary wing-play that creates the openings. In a turbulent campaign where consistency has proven elusive, the €80 million man remains the one constant world-class presence Union Berlin simply cannot afford to lose.