Paris Saint-Germain defender and Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi walks into the 2026 Champions League final carrying more than the possibility of another European medal.
One more title would take him level with Samuel Eto'o on three UEFA Champions League crowns, a number that, in the context of African football, carries unusual weight.
Eto'o is not considered by many to be Africa's greatest footballer of all time simply because he won the Champions League three time... although that trio of final glories certainly goes a long way to underpinning his legacy.
His claim, of course, is broader than that; the goals, the longevity, the African Footballer of the Year awards, the two Africa Cup of Nations triumphs with Cameroon, the Olympic gold, the force of personality, the years spend among Europe's elite at Barcelona and Internazionale.