They were just two people walking the streets of Manhattan. No entourage. No security in sight. But when one is a supermodel with 25 Vogue covers and the other is one of the most famous footballers in the world, a stroll through New York is never just that.
Achraf Hakimi and Imaan Hammam were spotted together on July 10, walking arm-in-arm near Midtown, just hours after Paris Saint-Germain’s Club World Cup semifinal win at MetLife Stadium. Hakimi had the day off. Hammam had a front-row seat at the match the night before, decked in a PSG jersey. Now, they were side by side on the sidewalk, laughing, dressed down, and utterly at ease.
The internet noticed.
Photos circulated within hours. “Power couple loading?” one fan asked. “The Arab Posh and Becks,” joked another. What stood out wasn’t just the pairing, but the ease. Hakimi, in his PSG offseason after a Champions League winning campaign. Hammam, fresh off a run of major fashion weeks and red carpet turns, including a statement tuxedo look at this year’s Met Gala.
Their shared Vogue Arabia cover from March had already hinted at something deeper. Shot in Paris, the issue paired them in high fashion and higher spirits. They interviewed each other, discussed their Moroccan roots, and laughed openly between takes. Editor Manuel Arnaut described their energy as “raw and candid.” The cover billed them as headliners. They might be becoming something more.
Are Imaan Hammam and Achraf Hakimi the next global power couple?
They share more than a passport stamp. Both are children of Moroccan immigrants, born and raised in Europe. Hammam in Amsterdam, Hakimi in Madrid. Both have risen to elite levels in their fields while maintaining cultural pride and humility. For Hammam, it’s been about showing Arab and African girls that beauty doesn’t need to conform. For Hakimi, it’s been representing Morocco with honor, whether that’s scoring at the World Cup or bringing his mother with him to award galas.
Their NYC outing seemed spontaneous, but it followed familiar rhythms. Hammam cheered from the stands. Hakimi returned the quiet support with a walk in the city. Social media speculated fast, but neither of them addressed the rumors. Maybe they don’t need to.
Reddit threads lit up with jokes. Football Twitter called it a “W.” And one commenter put it simply: “When Africans date each other, these are the results.” It wasn’t snark. It was pride. These weren’t two celebrities caught in a moment, they were representatives of something broader. A modern Arab African identity that’s global, visible, and stylish.
Whether friends, something more, or just enjoying each other’s company, the pairing has a cultural gravity. They’re young. Successful. Rooted. And now, in New York, briefly together in the wild. The paparazzi may have captured a moment, but the internet turned it into a mirror, reflecting back admiration, hope, and a little fantasy.
What’s next? Hakimi has a Club World Cup final to play. Hammam might be in the stands again. No statements have been made, and maybe that’s part of the charm. They’re not posing. They’re just walking. And in doing so, they’ve lit up timelines from Casablanca to Chelsea.
Two stars. One city. And a walk that said more than any headline could.
