World Cup: Kylian Mbappe hails Achraf Hakimi as ‘Morocco’s King’ after matchwinning penalty vs Spain

Kylian Mbappe has lit up this World Cup but the France star has paid homage to club team-mate Achraf Hakimi after his Moroccan heroics on Tuesday.

The North Africans’ impressive World Cup took another upward turn when they stunned Spain on penalties to advance to the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

With Spain having missed their first three penalties and Morocco converting two of their three, Hakimi stepped up to the penalty spot knowing he can create history for his country.

Achraf Hakimi (centre) was Morocco’s matchwinner as they dumped Spain out the World Cup

Hakimi scored the decisive penalty in their shootout win with this brilliant Panenka spot-kick

He was quickly mobbed by his team-mates as they ran over to celebrate with the right back

And the right back duly delivered as he produced a breathtaking Panenka penalty past Unai Simon to see Walid Regragui progress 3-0 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes of action at the Education City Stadium.

And taking to social media, Mbappe was quick to praise his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate for his matchwinning exploits.

Taking to Twitter the 23-year-old wrote: ‘ACHRAF HAKIMI’ alongside a penguin, crown and love heart with fingers emojis.

The significance of those emojis were relation to Hakimi celebrating his goal by dancing like a penguin, labelling him a king and the love heart celebration in relation to what he does when he scores.

Mbappe then tweeted again – sharing a picture of the pair alongside emojis to label him ‘Morocco’s King’.

The pair stands in front of sign that reads ‘Dima Maghrib’ which translate to ‘Morocco Forever’

Hakimi later quoted tweeted Mbappe writing ‘Dima maghib’ with a love heart and a handshake’.

The 24-year-old and Mbappe are close team-mates at PSG with the latter reportedly increasingly isolated at the French giants as speculation over his future at the Parc des Princes continues to grow.

His relationship with his team-mates is allegedly at an all-time low with a large majority of the dressing room said to be angered by Mbappe’s attitude and the power he was given by club chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi after he signed a new three-year deal at the club in May.

The club’s star man reportedly now only has the backing of his fellow French team-mates Presnel Kimpembe, Nordi Mukiele and Hugo Ekitike, along with Hakimi.

Hakimi and Kylian Mbappe are team-mates at Paris Saint-Germain and good friends too