The public prosecutor's office has said that “information already made public” in the media “undermined the necessary investigations to find out the truth” over the rape allegations made against 24-year-old Hakimi, who was part of the Morocco team that finished fourth in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and who was named on Monday in the Fifa Fifpro men’s world team of the year.

French prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation following rape allegations against Morocco soccer player defender Achraf Hakimi, a source close to the investigation said Tuesday, confirming reports in several French media outlets including Le Parisien.

The Nanterre prosecutor’s office, near Paris, is leading the investigation, the source said, without providing details about the accusation or comment on media reports about what allegedly happened.

“The Nanterre prosecutor’s office does not wish to comment on this ongoing investigation, as the information already published jeopardises the inquiries necessary for finding the truth,” the prosecutor’s office said.

Le Parisien, which first made the investigation known, said a 24-year-old woman went to police on Sunday to report she had been raped by Hakimi on Saturday at his home in a Paris suburb. The newspaper said the young woman did not file a formal complaint but that the prosecutor’s office decided to investigate.

Spanish-born Moroccan Hakimi is a defender for Paris Saint-Germain and plays for the Moroccan national side. The 24-year-old scored the penalty kick that took Morocco to the World Cup semifinals during Qatar 2022.

Hakimi, who is considered one of the best defenders in the world, joined PSG from Inter Milan in 2021. He now plays alongside superstars such as Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.

Due to his impressive performances at both club and international levels last year, he was named in the men’s best XI at FIFA’s annual awards ceremony in Paris on Monday.

PSG officials did not respond to requests for comment, and Hakimi has not publicly responded to the accusation.