The List of footballers you did not know were Muslim
Here are the lists and the profile of Muslim football players in European clubs. Some of these names are sure to leave you surprised! Football is one of the most popular sports in the world and footballers are some of the most high-profile public athletes. However, there is still so much we do not know about our favourite footballers.
Religion is one of the most sensitive and salient features of a person. While some footballers are extremely open about their personal beliefs, there are some famous footballers whose religions of choice are no so well known.
While Christianity is the predominant religion in Western Europe, there are so many top Muslim football players in the European leagues.
Football is one of the most egalitarian and engaging sport in the world, representing players from all nationalities and with different religious background. Many Muslim football players have been contributing to football over a long history. Their spectacular performance dazzle their fans.
Since the players’ personal beliefs have no effect on how they play football, fans should never discriminate players based on their religious beliefs.
However, Muslim footballers usually face anti-Muslim abuse from fans and sometimes even from other players or coaches. However, most of the time common sense prevails, as with many clubs, like Newcastle United, building multi-faith prayer rooms at their training grounds to facilitate Muslim football players.
According to a study conducted in 2015, Islam has 1.8 billion adherents, meaning that about 24.1 percent of the world population believes in this religion. Muslims definitely have tremendous significance in the world’s history and there is a number of world-class Muslim footballers who have entertained the fans all over the world.
Muslim players come from different countries and even different continents around the world. Some are of French descent and some are of Turkish descent, like many German players whose parents or grandparents immigrated to Central Europe after World War II. Some other notable players have converted to Islam, such as Franck Ribery.
Without much ado, let us take a look at footballers who you might not know were Muslim: (First let us take a look at the most famous Muslim footballers)
Some well known Muslim footballers
This posting, we will talking about football players, especially in European Clubs, as we know it's dominated by the Christian players or non muslims, but in fact there are many Muslim Football Players, who was born as a muslim or convert to Islam as a new muslim.
And Alhamdulillah after searching for information on Google, wikipedia, and other sites finally we can gather from various sources.
Here is a list of the best Muslim football players in the European Leagues:
It should be mentioned that the list includes only those Muslim footballers who are playing at the top-level football clubs.
Achraf Hakimi
Achraf Hakimi
Hakimi is married to Spanish actress Hiba Abouk; she is of Libyan and Tunisian descent. The couple have a son, born in 2020.
Hakimi is a devout Muslim and observes Ramadan – the Muslim practice of fasting for a month through April and May – every year. "I think I made the decision to play for Morocco because it's where my parents come from, how they raised me in a Moroccan, Muslim home, so I thought I'd be more comfortable playing for the Morocco national team," Hakimi said.
Achraf Hakimi have taken to social media to mark the occasion.
— achrafhakimi (@AchrafHakimi) May 6, 2019
Ousmane Dembélé
Ousmane Dembélé
According to ‘Koora’ website, Dembélé plans to build the new mosque in his mother’s village in southern Mauritania. The Muslim player’s mother is a Senegalese Mauritanian, while his father is Malian.
The French national football team defeated Croatia 4-2 in the final match of the world cup last Sunday July 15. According to the FIFA, this win granted the French team a prize of US$38 million.
The 21-year-old Dembélé currently plays for the Spanish club Barcelona. He won the German Cup DFB-Pokal with Borussia Dortmund in 2016-17 in addition to La Liga 2017–18 and Copa del Rey 2017–18 with Barcelona.
Furthermore, he was named the UNFP Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year 2015–16, UEFA Champions League Breakthrough XI: 2016, Bundesliga Rookie of the Season 2016–17, and Man of the match in 2017 DFB Pokal Final. That’s in addition to being named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season 2016–17.
Dembélé was first called up to the senior France squad to face Italy and Belarus in August 2016. He made his debut in September against the former at the Stadio San Nicola. His first international goal with France was in a 3–2 friendly victory against England on June 13, 2017.
Mauritania, the birthplace of Dembélé, is a Muslim West African country where Islam represents about 99.9% of its four-million population, according to the CIA World Factbook.
It was trade with Muslim merchants that brought Islam into Mauritania during the 8th century. Islam is by far the largest and most influential religion in the country and has been since the 10th century.
Despite his poor injury history, the winger is particularly valued by the coach, Quique Setien.
Born: May 15, 1997 (age 23 years), Vernon, France
Height: 1.78 m
Weight: 67 kg
Nationality: French
Current team: FC Barcelona (#11 / Forward)
Parents: Fatimata Dembélé.
Eric Sylvain Abidal is a French former professional footballer who played as a left back or centre back.
Eric Abidal is a fighter. The Barcelona legend came back from cancer to play at the very highest level again. A supremely decorated footballer, the former Monaco left-back has won plenty of trophies all over Europe.
Abidal converted from Christianity to Islam in 2007 after marrying Algerian-born former gymnast Hayet Kebir. Speaking about his conversion, Abidal said:
“All the natural progress. Options converted to Islam not because of my wife, but a gift that had suddenly appeared. It really happened there. Flowing away and made me feel happy. I embraced Islam with full confidence,” he was quoted saying.
One of the game’s premier left-backs, Abidal had a long and successful career at Barcelona before finally calling time at Olympiacos after the end of 2014-15 season.
The iconic left-back made 193 appearances for Barcelona between 2007 and 2013.
On his conversion in Islam in 2007, Abidal said: "It was a gift that suddenly appeared. I embraced Islam with full confidence."
In his career, he played mainly for Lyon and Barcelona, winning 18 trophies with both teams combined, including two Champions League trophies with the latter.
Born: September 11, 1979 (age 41 years), St-Genis-Laval, France
Spouse: Hayet Abidal (m. 2007)
Position: Defender
Number: 22 (FC Barcelona / Defender)
Children: Leyna Abidal, Meliana Abidal, Canelia Abidal
One of the greatest African players of the last generation, Emmanuel Adebayor has had a successful career in various top clubs across Europe including Arsenal, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
The former Tottenham striker is seen wearing white robes taking part in the Shahada, a ceremony in which one declares belief in 'the oneness of Allah and acceptance of Muhammad as his prophet' in a video on Youtube.
The Togo striker will be hoping to guide his side to the Champions League group stages after finishing an impressive second place in the Turkish Super League in the 2016/17 season.
The 31-year-old took the Shahada , a tradition in which one joining the religion declares their faith and accepts Muhammad as God’s prophet. Adebayor is seen wearing the white robes expected during the ceremony.
The footballer seemed to have been a practising Christian for several years and was photographed at a Togolese Young Men’s Christian Association earlier this month.
It has been a tumultuous few months for Adebayor, who has posted on Facebook on several occasions about the problems he has had with family members. The striker was given compassionate leave from Spurs in May.
His personal troubles have come during a disappointing season at White Hart Lane where he managed just eight league appearances. However the forward has declared himself eager to return and prepare for next season.
The below video shows Adebayor converting to Islam in July 2015:
Togolese international, Emmanuel Adebayor has converted to Islam. He is captured in this video taking the Shahada (the Islamic creed declaring belief in the oneness of God and the acceptance of Muhammad as God's prophet).
A video footage intercepted by 233livenews seem to indicate that Togolese international, Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor has converted to Islam.
The 31-year-old is seen in the video reciting Shahada (Islamic creed declaring belief in the oneness of God and the acceptance of Muhammad as God’s prophet) together with some other supposed new converts.
Emmanuel Adebayor is stated in many publications as being very religious.
Everything I do in life I put in the hands of God, my creator,
He gave me the chance to be where I am today and He’s the one that can take it all away from me. So at the team hotel, I pray before sleeping and I pray again in the morning. There is nothing more important for me than God, Adebayor said in a news publication.
Height: 1.78 m
Weight: 67 kg
Nationality: French
Current team: FC Barcelona (#11 / Forward)
Parents: Fatimata Dembélé.
Éric Abidal
Éric Abidal
Eric Abidal is a fighter. The Barcelona legend came back from cancer to play at the very highest level again. A supremely decorated footballer, the former Monaco left-back has won plenty of trophies all over Europe.
“All the natural progress. Options converted to Islam not because of my wife, but a gift that had suddenly appeared. It really happened there. Flowing away and made me feel happy. I embraced Islam with full confidence,” he was quoted saying.
The iconic left-back made 193 appearances for Barcelona between 2007 and 2013.
In his career, he played mainly for Lyon and Barcelona, winning 18 trophies with both teams combined, including two Champions League trophies with the latter.
Spouse: Hayet Abidal (m. 2007)
Position: Defender
Number: 22 (FC Barcelona / Defender)
Children: Leyna Abidal, Meliana Abidal, Canelia Abidal
Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor
The Togo striker will be hoping to guide his side to the Champions League group stages after finishing an impressive second place in the Turkish Super League in the 2016/17 season.
The footballer seemed to have been a practising Christian for several years and was photographed at a Togolese Young Men’s Christian Association earlier this month.
It has been a tumultuous few months for Adebayor, who has posted on Facebook on several occasions about the problems he has had with family members. The striker was given compassionate leave from Spurs in May.
His personal troubles have come during a disappointing season at White Hart Lane where he managed just eight league appearances. However the forward has declared himself eager to return and prepare for next season.
The below video shows Adebayor converting to Islam in July 2015:
Togolese international, Emmanuel Adebayor has converted to Islam. He is captured in this video taking the Shahada (the Islamic creed declaring belief in the oneness of God and the acceptance of Muhammad as God's prophet).
A video footage intercepted by 233livenews seem to indicate that Togolese international, Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor has converted to Islam.
The 31-year-old is seen in the video reciting Shahada (Islamic creed declaring belief in the oneness of God and the acceptance of Muhammad as God’s prophet) together with some other supposed new converts.
Everything I do in life I put in the hands of God, my creator,
He gave me the chance to be where I am today and He’s the one that can take it all away from me. So at the team hotel, I pray before sleeping and I pray again in the morning. There is nothing more important for me than God, Adebayor said in a news publication.
Born: February 26, 1984 (age 36 years), Lome, Togo
Nationality: Togolese
Height: 1.91 m
Current team: Togo national football team (Forward)
Salary: 5.84 million GBP (2012)
Siblings: Peter Adebayor, Rotimi Adebayor, Lucia Adebayor, Kola Adebayor, Yabo Adebayor, Maggie Adebayor.
Nicolas Sébastien Anelka is a French professional football manager and former player who played as a forward.
One of the most talented strikers to emerge from France in the last 25 years, Nicolas Anelka converted to Islam from Christianity when he was just 16.
Speaking about his conversion, Anelka said:
“I was sixteen when I converted to Islam, beyond the fraternal aspect, my conversion did not change my life. I was already living by the same principles — being righteous, having values. I used to fast during Ramadan because I admired the people fasting around me. What made me convert was that I had that certainty that Islam was for me.
“I felt this relationship with God, and that enlightened my life. I had that conviction in my heart that that was my religion. I am pleased to be a Muslim, a religion of peace and I learned a lot from Islam.” – he was quoted saying.
Anelka was last seen as the manager of Indian Super League side Mumbai City FC.
As a player, he regularly featured in his country's national team, often scoring at crucial moments.
Armand Mouhamed Traoré is a professional footballer who plays as a left back.
Bacary Sagna is a French professional footballer. He has mainly played in the Premier League, and also for the France national team.
Vassiriki Abou Diaby, known as Abou Diaby, is a French former professional footballer. 
Born: January 10, 1984 (age 36 years), Tonneins, France
Career start: 2002
Career end: May 26, 2019 
Number: 29 (FC Girondins de Bordeaux / Forward), 29 (Crystal Palace F.C. / Forward), 27 (Cardiff City F.C. / Forward)
Siblings: Amal Chamakh, Yassin Chamakh
Nationality: French, Moroccan
Danon Issouf Johannes Djourou Gbadjere, known as Johan Djourou, is a professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Danish Superliga club FC Nordsjælland. 
Born: June 3, 1985 (age 35 years), Dakar, Senegal
Height: 1.81 m
Nationality: Senegalese
Weight: 72 kg
Spouse: Awa Diallo (m. 2015)
Current team: Fenerbahçe S.K. (#9 / Forward)
Demba Ba is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a striker for Turkish club İstanbul Başakşehir and the Senegal national team. 
Salary: 6.7 million USD (2016) 
Nationality: French, Senegalese
Hatem Ben Arfa is a French professional footballer who plays as a winger and an attacking midfielder for Ligue 1 club Bordeaux. 
Kanouté was named the 2007 African Footballer of the Year, the first player born outside Africa to win the award. 
Frédéric Kanouté used to modify his Sevilla shirt, to obscure the sponsorship from online casino 888.com. The club later came to an agreement that the player was not endorsing gambling by wearing it, and would be excused from any promotional material with 888.
Born: November 11, 1983 (age 37 years), Anyama, Côte d’Ivoire
Height: 1.81 m
Current team: Sivasspor (#2 / Forward)
Salary: 1.56 million GBP (2013)
Children: Amidou Koné
Siblings: Bakari Koné, Karamoko Koné
Nabil El Zhar is a professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Qatari club Al Ahli. He finished his formation at Liverpool, playing sparingly for the club and more consistently on loan at PAOK in 2010–11. He then moved to Spain, spending four La Liga seasons at Levante.
Born: August 27, 1986 (age 34 years), Alès, France
Height: 1.75 m
Weight: 71 kg
Current team: Al Ahli SC (#10 / Midfielder)
Nationality: French, Moroccan
Parents: Amina Sankour, Kacem El Zhar
Rami Shaaban is a Swedish former professional football player.
Nationality: Togolese
Height: 1.91 m
Current team: Togo national football team (Forward)
Salary: 5.84 million GBP (2012)
Siblings: Peter Adebayor, Rotimi Adebayor, Lucia Adebayor, Kola Adebayor, Yabo Adebayor, Maggie Adebayor.
Nicolas Anelka
Nicolas Anelka
“I was sixteen when I converted to Islam, beyond the fraternal aspect, my conversion did not change my life. I was already living by the same principles — being righteous, having values. I used to fast during Ramadan because I admired the people fasting around me. What made me convert was that I had that certainty that Islam was for me.
“I felt this relationship with God, and that enlightened my life. I had that conviction in my heart that that was my religion. I am pleased to be a Muslim, a religion of peace and I learned a lot from Islam.” – he was quoted saying.
Anelka was last seen as the manager of Indian Super League side Mumbai City FC.
As a player, he regularly featured in his country's national team, often scoring at crucial moments.
Born: March 14, 1979 (age 41 years), Le Chesnay, Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt, France
Spouse: Barbara Tausia (m. 2007)
Number: 21 (Paris Saint-Germain F.C. / Forward),
Teams coached: Mumbai City FC (Player-coach, 2015–2015), Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C. (Player-coach, 2012–2012)
Children: Kais Anelka, Lina Anelka, Kahil Anelka
Miralem Pjanić is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Spanish club Barcelona and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. Pjanić started his professional career at Metz being there for one season. He signed for side Lyon in 2008 before signing for Roma in 2011 after three seasons at Lyon.
Bought by Juventus as a replacement for Paul Pogba, 26-year-old Miralem Pjanic has quickly settled into his role as the chief playmaker in this very impressive Juventus side. Gifted with amazing technical ability, playmaking skills and tactical versatility, Pjanic is also exceptional at taking free-kicks.
Having moved to Luxembourg before the start of the Bosnian war, Pjanic quickly grew up to be one of the best ball-playing midfielders of this generation. Now representing Bosnia, Pjanic like his compatriot Dzeko is a Muslim from birth.
Known for his calm and composed style on the ball, Pjanic’s incisive passing and vision has been crucial to Juventus’ good performances this season. The Bosnian midfielder will be hoping to continue performing at the highest level.
Spouse: Barbara Tausia (m. 2007)
Number: 21 (Paris Saint-Germain F.C. / Forward),
Teams coached: Mumbai City FC (Player-coach, 2015–2015), Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C. (Player-coach, 2012–2012)
Children: Kais Anelka, Lina Anelka, Kahil Anelka
Miralem Pjanić
Miralem Pjanić
Bought by Juventus as a replacement for Paul Pogba, 26-year-old Miralem Pjanic has quickly settled into his role as the chief playmaker in this very impressive Juventus side. Gifted with amazing technical ability, playmaking skills and tactical versatility, Pjanic is also exceptional at taking free-kicks.
Having moved to Luxembourg before the start of the Bosnian war, Pjanic quickly grew up to be one of the best ball-playing midfielders of this generation. Now representing Bosnia, Pjanic like his compatriot Dzeko is a Muslim from birth.
Known for his calm and composed style on the ball, Pjanic’s incisive passing and vision has been crucial to Juventus’ good performances this season. The Bosnian midfielder will be hoping to continue performing at the highest level.
Born: April 2, 1990 (age 30 years), Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height: 1.78 m
Partner: Josepha Pjanić
Salary: 6.5 million EUR (2018)
Current teams: FC Barcelona (#8 / Midfielder), Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team (Midfielder)
Nationality: Bosnian, Luxembourgish, Yugoslav.
Paul Labile Pogba is a French professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Manchester United and the France national team.
Isn’t 'Paul' a Christian name? You might wonder. It’s somewhat bewildering when you think about it. That’s how it is. A man can choose his path, regardless of name. We’ve seen a notable footballer like Emmanuel Adebayor convert to Islam. Which is quite similar to what Paul Pogba did.
His mother practiced Islam but did not raise her three sons to be Muslim. However the Manchester United midfielder connected with religion as an adult through friends, and says Islam is often misunderstood.
“Islam is not the image that everyone sees, terrorism,” Pogba told, Life Times podcast. “What we hear in the media is really something else. It’s something beautiful.”
At only 27, Pogba is considered by many to be a future Ballon d’Or winner and his potential and talent is what led to United forking out the huge sum for the Frenchman. Born in Siene-et-Marne to Guinean parents, Paul Pogba along with his brothers Florentin and Mathias are Muslim.
As one of the most valuable players in the world, Pogba is capable of playing as a central midfielder and in a slightly more advanced role.
“It made me change, realize things in life. I guess, maybe, it makes me more peaceful inside. It was a good change in my life because I wasn’t born a Muslim, even if my mum was. I just grew up like that, respect for everyone.
One of the most marketable footballers in the world, Paul Pogba is a devout and practising Muslim from birth.
Still only 24, Pogba is considered by many to be a future Ballon d’Or winner and his potential and talent is what led to United forking out the huge sum for the Frenchman. Born in Siene-et-Marne to Guinean parents, Paul Pogba along with his brothers Florentin and Mathias are Muslim. One of the most valuable players in the world Pogba is capable of playing as a central midfielder and in a slightly more advanced role.
He operates primarily as a central midfielder, but can also be deployed as an attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder and deep-lying playmaker.
In 2012, Pogba joined Italian side Juventus to win four consecutive Serie A titles, as well as two Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. He received the Golden Boy award in 2013 and Bravo Award in 2014.
In 2016, Pogba was named to the 2015 UEFA Team of the Year as well as the 2015 FIFA FIFPro World XI, after helping Juventus to the 2015 UEFA Champions League Final.
Jose Mourinho is determined to get the best out of his world record signing and we might just see the best of the Frenchman in the 2017/18 season.
Born: March 15, 1993 (age 27 years), Lagny-sur-Marne, France
Height: 1.91 m
Nationality: French
Salary: 15.08 million GBP (2016)
Current teams: Manchester United F.C. (#6 / Midfielder), France national football team (Midfielder)
Siblings: Mathias Pogba, Florentin Pogba
Edin Džeko is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a striker and captains both Serie A club Roma and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.
One of the most underrated strikers in world football, Edin Dzeko has practised Islam since he was born. The Bosnian striker has been successful wherever he has played especially for Bundesliga club Wolfsburg, Premier League side Manchester City and his current side AS Roma. A prolific goalscorer, Dzeko had a stunning 2016/17 season where he scored 39 goals in 51 appearances.
An absolute superstar in his home country of Bosnia, Dzeko is also multilingual and capable of speaking 4 languages – Bosnian, Czech, German and English fluently. He is also involved in plenty of charitable ventures and even became his country’s first UNICEF ambassador.
Still only 31, Dzeko will be determined to add some more chapters to his already storied career. The Bosnian Diamond will be determined to guide Roma to the Serie A title in the 2017/18 season.
Džeko was named Bosnian Footballer of the Year for three years in a row.
Born: March 17, 1986 (age 34 years), Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height: 1.93 m
Spouse: Amra Silajdžić (m. 2014)
Salary: 8.47 million EUR (2011)
Current teams: A.S. Roma (#9 / Forward), Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team (Forward)
Nationality: Bosnian, Yugoslav
Mesut Özil a German professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder, but can also be deployed as a winger for Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe. Nicknamed "The Assist King", Özil is known for his technical skills, creativity, agility, and finesse. He has also played as a wide midfielder in his career.
Özil was born in Gelsenkirchen on 15 October 1988. He played, at youth level, for various clubs in Gelsenkirchen during 1995-2000, before a five-year stint for Rot-Weiss Essen.
On 2 September 2013, Özil agreed to join English side Arsenal. The fee paid for Özil was believed to be around £42.5 million (€50 million) for a five-year deal.
The transfer made him the most expensive German football player of all time. Özil was assigned the number 11 shirt and the center-attacking midfield role by the team.
It's been an open secret for a long - Mesut Ozil is Muslim.
In the aftermath of the 2018 World Cup, Ozil angrily retired from international football citing racial abuse regarding a picture he took with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Özil is a practicing Muslim. He recites from the Quran before his matches. He said, "I always do that before I go out [on the pitch]. I pray and my teammates know that they cannot talk to me during this brief period."
"Ramadan Mubarak to all my Muslim brothers and sisters," Ozil posted.
During a Europa League match in 2018 against Atlético Madrid, an Atlético fan threw a piece of bread at Özil while he was preparing to take a corner. Özil picked up the bread, kissed it, and brought it to his forehead to express gratitude towards the food given to him, which is important in Islam, which was widely applauded throughout the stadium.
He’s often criticized for his nonchalance, but Ozil is truly a superb midfielder with a touch like pure silk.
Renowned for his technical skills and creativity, Özil has also received praise for his agility, finesse, and versatility as an attacking midfielder.
Özil said, "I always do that before I go out [on the pitch]. I pray and my teammates know that they cannot talk to me during this brief period."
Lost £22 million partnership with Adidas for speaking against China's act of Brutality on the people of Uighar.
Lost his place from Club as he initiated MUSLIM LIVES MATTER AS WELL and criticised club for not backing him on for his stance on Uighar as they are human too.
More than just a footballer ❤
Born: October 15, 1988 (age 32 years), Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Height: 1.8 m
Spouse: Amine Gülşe (m. 2019)
Current team: Arsenal F.C. (#10 / Midfielder)
Salary: 18.2 million GBP (2020)
Children: Eda Özil
Granit Xhaka is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal and captains the Switzerland national team. Xhaka began his career at hometown club Basel, winning the Swiss Super League in each of his first two seasons.
Arsenal and Swiss midfield star Granit Xhaka is one of the Muslim team stars at the North London side. Bought from German side Borussia Monchengladbach for a fee of around £35 million, the Swiss star has had a decent first season.
Xhaka was born in the city of Basel, Switzerland into an Albanian family from Kuršumlija, then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, now Serbia.
His father Ragip was a political prisoner. At the age of 22, as a student at University of Pristina, he was arrested for participating in a 1986 student demonstration against the central government in Belgrade, and served three and a half years of a six-year prison sentence before being released in 1990. Their family moved from Podujevo, District of Pristina to Switzerland that year.
His older brother, Taulant Xhaka, is a professional footballer and plays for FC Basel and the Albania national team.
Arsenal and Swiss midfield star Granit Xhaka is one of the three Muslim first team stars (along with Ozil and Mustafi) at the North London side. Bought from German side Borussia Monchengladbach for a fee of around £35 million, the Swiss star has had a decent first season.
Capable of breaking up play and setting up attacks with equal ease, Xhaka after a tough settling period showed his true game towards the end of the season where he played a crucial role in Arsenal’s stunning FA Cup triumph over Chelsea.
Not afraid of crunching into tackles, Xhaka’s physical presence in the centre of the field coupled with his ball playing skills gives Arsene Wenger’s side a new dimension and it will be interesting to see how the Swiis midfielder fares in his second season at the Premier League club.
Born: September 27, 1992 (age 28 years), Basel, Switzerland
Height: 1.85 m
Spouse: Leonita Lekaj (m. 2017)
Current teams: Arsenal F.C. (#34 / Midfielder), Switzerland national football team (Midfielder)
Siblings: Taulant Xhaka, Agnesa Xhaka
Nationality: Kosovar, Swiss
Sadio Mané is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Liverpool and the Senegal national team.
Mane is one player who gives his all every time he’s out on the pitch. No surprise he plundered 18 goals and provided 12 assists before COVID-19 rudely interrupted.
One of the best signings of the 2016/17 season, Sadio Mane is a devout Muslim and a teetotaler. The Senegal man was one of the best players in the Premier League last season and Mane credited religion with playing a huge role in his success.
In an earlier interview with Dail Mail, Mane spoke about the importance of Islam in his life:
“Religion is very important to me. I respect the rules of Islam and I pray five times a day, always. I won't touch alcohol. There was no conflict between religion and the fact that I wanted to play football. I was brought up correctly and in the right way and my parents are proud of the fact that I am a footballer.”
In fact, Mane’s father was even the Imam of a local mosque at his home country in Senegal. A true superstar in Africa, Mane is determined to give back to the region he came from and make it a better place.
Known for his finishing, dribbling, and speed, Mané is considered one of the best players in the world.
Born: April 10, 1992 (age 28 years), Sedhiou, Senegal
Height: 1.75 m
Nationality: Senegalese
Current teams: Liverpool F.C. (#10 / Forward), Senegal national football team (#10 / Forward)
Dates joined: 2016 (Liverpool F.C.), 2014 (Southampton F.C.)
Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly, born 15 June 1992, is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and the Egypt national team. Considered one of the best players in the world, he is known for his finishing, dribbling, and speed.
Born in Egypt, Salah began his professional career with the Egyptian club El Mokawloon followed by joining FC Basel in Switzerland. After short spells at Chelsea, Fiorentina, and Roma he finally joined Liverpool for a then club-record fee of £36.9 million.
The forward went on to break the Premier League scoring record by netting 32 goals in the 2017/2018 season securing the Premier League Golden Boot and PFA Players' Player of the Year after netting 32 goals in 36 league games.
His magical performance also handed him a third spot for the 2018 Best FIFA Men's Player award.
In the 2018/2019 season, Salah was the top join goalscorer and led Liverpool to win the UEFA Champions League.
Salah was key in helping Liverpool end its 30-year league title drought by winning the 2019–20 Premier League.
Famously known as the "The Pharoah" or "The Egyptian Messi" by fans worldwide, Mohamed Salah is easily one of the best football players around the world. Salah’s trademark goal celebration often involves performing Sujood.
Fun fact: During the 2008 presidential elections in Egypt, more than one million people added Salah’s name on their ballot paper casting him their vote. Salah would have been the second-best choice for the presidency had the votes been counted as legal.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is another Muslim footballer who needs no introduction. Born and raised in the Islamic country of Egypt, it’s not hard to see why he's Muslim.
Since returning for a second spell in the Premier League in 2017, Salah has risen to become one of the best forwards in the game. No goalkeeper can be comfortable with Salah shooting off that wicked left foot of his.
Many believe that Salah’s presence at Liverpool Football Club has been a direct cause of a fall in Islamophobia in the city. There is no doubt that he was the best Muslim footballer of 2019
Salah has been a revelation for the club, winning the Premier League golden boot in both of his campaigns and playing a leading role in their recent Champions League triumph, scoring the opening goal in the final from the penalty spot.
Therefore, it can be concluded that Salah’s characteristics as a friendly figure in the team had helped ‘humanize’ the Muslim community in general and the football community in particular.
Liverpool fans created a chant to the tune of Dodgy's "Good Enough", saying that if Salah continued to score goals, they would convert to Islam – "If he's good enough for you, he's good enough for me, if he scores another few, then I'll be Muslim too." Salah gave his approval to the chant, and it has been cited as an example of inclusivity. According to a 2021 study in the American Political Science Review, Salah's transfer to Liverpool led to a 16% reduction in hate crimes in the city, as well as massively reduced anti-Muslim online rhetoric by Liverpool fans. Salah is devout to a degree that many other well-known Muslims sports figures are not, and his charm and apolitical persona have made him a popular figure in the UK.
During his goal celebration, Salah lays in the prostrate position to thank God in sujud. On this goal celebration, Salah told CNN, "It's something like praying or thanking God for what I have received, but yeah, it's just praying and praying for a win. I've always done that since I was young, everywhere."
According to researchers at Stanford University, Liverpool FC and Egyptian star Mohammed Salah played an influential role in reducing Islamophobia in the region.
Since his arrival, Merseyside county witnessed a 18.9% drop in anti-Islam crimes and significantly decreased anti-Muslim tweets (7.8% to 3.8%) in comparison to fans of other top-tier English clubs thanks to increase in familiarity with Islam.
In February 2019, both West Ham United and the police investigated Islamophobic abuse towards Mohamed Salah emanating from the home supporters at the London Stadium during a game between West Ham and Liverpool. West Ham said they were investigating a video which allegedly showed fans racially abusing Salah, including for being Muslim. The investigation resulted in the fan being banned for three years.
Video footage was obtained where someone can be heard shouting “Salah, you fucking Muslim, fucking Muslim cunt” at Salah. In October 2020, a West Ham United supporter was convicted of committing a racially-aggravated public order offence. He was fined £400 and banned from football games for three years.
Born: June 15, 1992 (age 28 years), Nagrig, Egypt
Height: 1.75 m
Spouse: Magi Sadek (m. 2013)
Current teams: Liverpool F.C. (#11 / Forward), Egypt national football team (#10 / Forward)
He has been described as an "immensely talented striker" who is "strong and powerful" and "a potent finisher from inside the box".
Born: December 19, 1987 (age 32 years), Lyon, France
Height: 1.85 m
Spouse: Cora Gauthier
Current team: Real Madrid C.F. (#9 / Forward)
Salary: 7.92 million GBP (2016)
Siblings: Gressy Benzema, Nafissa Benzema, Sabri Benzema
Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is another devout Muslim in the Premier League. The midfielder every time wishes his fans on Eid via his social media channels.
Emre Can, born 12 January 1994, is a German professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Borussia Dortmund on loan from Italian club Juventus, until June 2020, and the Germany national team.
As a versatile player, Can has also played as a defensive midfielder, center back, and full back.
He has opened up about sickening racist abuse he and his family have suffered.
Can was born in Frankfurt but his parents are Turkish and he explained how they had been left hurt by a recent experience when he flew with them to Germany from the UK. His mother was wearing a hijab, a veil worn by Muslim women.
“Two months ago I had a day off and I wanted to fly to Germany. I had to book at the last minute,” Can said.
“My mum was wearing a hijab. She was here with my dad. We couldn’t sit together on the plane.
“There were two seats next to each other. My mum and dad wanted to sit together but they had other seats.
“My best mate was there too and he asked the man ‘can they sit there please?’ He said ‘no, show me your ticket’.
“My friend said ‘please, they just want to sit together’ and the man said ‘no’ again. The reason he said no was because my mum was wearing a hijab. It was a bad thing. It was racist.
“It was actually a former player but he didn’t see me as I was at the back of the plane.”
Adnan Januzaj is a Belgian born youngster with an Kosovan Albanian origin. He is the first Muslim footballer in Man United first team since Mame Biram Diouf departure to Hannover in January 2012.
The 18-year-old was scouted by Man United from Anderlechts academy in 2011. United beat Barcelona in the race to sign this youngster for just £297,000.
“Adnan is a beautifully balanced player. He’s only 18 and still to grow into his frame. But he has good balance, good acceleration and he’s a very good technical player.” – Sir Alex Ferguson
The precocious Belgian’s dribbling style is characteristic of a skilfully hockey player keeping the ball very close to his body whilst moving at speed.
The name Adnan is of Arabic origin meaning ‘settler’ or ‘to stay’. Thankfully it’s far easier to pronounce too.
The 29-year-old midfielder, born in Kosovo, started to discover his passion and love for football at the age of 13.
The 184-com footballer, Behrami, played his first international match in the Swiss squad against France in October 2005.
Appearing at Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, UEFA EURO 2008 and World CUP Brazil 2014, France Euro 2016 is now the midfielder’s fifth major international tournament.
The Turkey international has scored 15 goals in 55 matches during his turbulent career at Barcelona.
The winger is still owned by the Catalan club but he isn't eligible to play this season.
Turan is a devoted Muslim as he often kneels to the ground to thank Allah after scoring.
The defensive midfielder has never been a Barcelona regular but still managed 22 goals in 188 matches between 2008 and 2012.
The Malian retired in 2017 after spells in China and in Qatar.
According to the local sources, Keita helped to build a mosque in Malian capital Bamako back in 2018.
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A 24-year old defender, and originally Senegalese. He plays for AS Monaco club and the French national team. He won ‘Ligue 1’ in 2016-17 with Monaco and was named the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year in the same season.
He is originally from Algeria, and features as attacking midfielder and forward for the French club Lyon and the French national team.
He was named Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year in 2014-15.
Fekir was also named the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year in both 2014–15 and 2017–18 as well as the UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month in October 2017.
As with any field, we pray the best for our Muslim brothers to be able to give their best.
Gnégnéri Yaya Touré is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder and last played for Chinese Super League club Qingdao Huanghai.
The physical midfielder scored six goals in 118 matches for Barcelona between 2007 and 2010.
The Ivorian announced his retirement in late 2018 but managed some more months at the Chinese side QD Huanghai in 2019.
Toure mentioned several times he was forced to refuse champagne for Man of the Match performances for Manchester City because of his religion
Touré aspired to be a striker during his youth and has played centre-back, including for Barcelona in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final.
The attitude towards Muslim players are showing movement of change. The Premier league halted its tradition of giving champagne as a man-of-the-match award and altered it to a trophy when Muslim Manchester City star Yaya Touré began winning it on a regular basis.
Born: May 13, 1983 (age 37 years), Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire
Height: 1.88 m
Spouse: Gineba Touré (m. 2004)
Salary: 15 million USD (2012)
Number: 42 (Manchester City F.C. / Midfielder), 42 (Olympiacos F.C. / Midfielder), 15 (AS Monaco FC / Midfielder)
Siblings: Kolo Touré, Ibrahim Touré, Aicha Toure
Kolo Abib Touré is an Ivorian football coach and former footballer. He played as a defender for Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Celtic and the Ivory Coast national team. He is currently a first team coach at Leicester City as well as a member of the coaching staff for the Ivory Coast national team. 
Born: March 19, 1981 (age 39 years), Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire
Spouse: Awo Touré (m. 2012)
Current team: Leicester City F.C. (first team coach)
Number: 5 (Arsenal F.C. / Defender), 4 (Liverpool F.C. / Defender), 28 (Manchester City F.C. / Defender), 2 (Celtic F.C. / Defender)
Siblings: Yaya Touré, Ibrahim Touré, Aicha Toure
Children: Yiassin Touré, Sania Touré, Yaya Touré
Salomon Armand Magloire Kalou is an Ivorian footballer who plays as a striker and winger for Brazilian club Botafogo and the Ivory Coast national football team. 
Salary: 3.12 million EUR (2012)
Siblings: Bonaventure Kalou
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Islam Salieh Feruz is a professional footballer who plays as a centre forward. He is currently without a club.
Feruz spent most of his youth career with Celtic, before moving to Chelsea in September 2011 after rejecting a professional contract with the Scottish club.
Born: September 10, 1995 (age 25 years), Kismayo, Somalia
Height: 1.63 m
Nationality: Scottish
Number: 20 (Hibernian F.C. / Forward),
Dates joined: 2017 (Swindon Town F.C.),
Height: 1.78 m
Partner: Josepha Pjanić
Salary: 6.5 million EUR (2018)
Current teams: FC Barcelona (#8 / Midfielder), Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team (Midfielder)
Nationality: Bosnian, Luxembourgish, Yugoslav.
Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba
Isn’t 'Paul' a Christian name? You might wonder. It’s somewhat bewildering when you think about it. That’s how it is. A man can choose his path, regardless of name. We’ve seen a notable footballer like Emmanuel Adebayor convert to Islam. Which is quite similar to what Paul Pogba did.
“It made me change, realize things in life. I guess, maybe, it makes me more peaceful inside. It was a good change in my life because I wasn’t born a Muslim, even if my mum was. I just grew up like that, respect for everyone.
One of the most marketable footballers in the world, Paul Pogba is a devout and practising Muslim from birth.
Still only 24, Pogba is considered by many to be a future Ballon d’Or winner and his potential and talent is what led to United forking out the huge sum for the Frenchman. Born in Siene-et-Marne to Guinean parents, Paul Pogba along with his brothers Florentin and Mathias are Muslim. One of the most valuable players in the world Pogba is capable of playing as a central midfielder and in a slightly more advanced role.
In 2016, Pogba was named to the 2015 UEFA Team of the Year as well as the 2015 FIFA FIFPro World XI, after helping Juventus to the 2015 UEFA Champions League Final.
Height: 1.91 m
Nationality: French
Salary: 15.08 million GBP (2016)
Current teams: Manchester United F.C. (#6 / Midfielder), France national football team (Midfielder)
Siblings: Mathias Pogba, Florentin Pogba
Edin Džeko
Edin Džeko
One of the most underrated strikers in world football, Edin Dzeko has practised Islam since he was born. The Bosnian striker has been successful wherever he has played especially for Bundesliga club Wolfsburg, Premier League side Manchester City and his current side AS Roma. A prolific goalscorer, Dzeko had a stunning 2016/17 season where he scored 39 goals in 51 appearances.
Still only 31, Dzeko will be determined to add some more chapters to his already storied career. The Bosnian Diamond will be determined to guide Roma to the Serie A title in the 2017/18 season.
Džeko was named Bosnian Footballer of the Year for three years in a row.
Born: March 17, 1986 (age 34 years), Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height: 1.93 m
Spouse: Amra Silajdžić (m. 2014)
Salary: 8.47 million EUR (2011)
Current teams: A.S. Roma (#9 / Forward), Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team (Forward)
Nationality: Bosnian, Yugoslav
Mesut Özil
Mesut Özil
Özil was born in Gelsenkirchen on 15 October 1988. He played, at youth level, for various clubs in Gelsenkirchen during 1995-2000, before a five-year stint for Rot-Weiss Essen.
Ozil is of Turkish descent – a country where 63.8% of the population is Muslim.
On 2 September 2013, Özil agreed to join English side Arsenal. The fee paid for Özil was believed to be around £42.5 million (€50 million) for a five-year deal.
The transfer made him the most expensive German football player of all time. Özil was assigned the number 11 shirt and the center-attacking midfield role by the team.
It's been an open secret for a long - Mesut Ozil is Muslim.
In the aftermath of the 2018 World Cup, Ozil angrily retired from international football citing racial abuse regarding a picture he took with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The German footballer recites from the Quran before his match.
"Ramadan Mubarak to all my Muslim brothers and sisters," Ozil posted.
He observes fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan, but he has admitted that: "Because of my job I cannot follow Ramadan properly. I do it only the few days I can, only when I have a free day. But other than that it's impossible, because you have to drink and eat a lot to stay at peak fitness."#RamadanMubarak to all my Muslim brothers & sisters! 🤲🏼❤ #RamadanKareem pic.twitter.com/LfhQzXVk4g
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) May 6, 2019
In May 2016, he performed Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca.
During a Europa League match in 2018 against Atlético Madrid, an Atlético fan threw a piece of bread at Özil while he was preparing to take a corner. Özil picked up the bread, kissed it, and brought it to his forehead to express gratitude towards the food given to him, which is important in Islam, which was widely applauded throughout the stadium.
Lost £22 million partnership with Adidas for speaking against China's act of Brutality on the people of Uighar.
Ozil kissing his mother.
Lost his place from Club as he initiated MUSLIM LIVES MATTER AS WELL and criticised club for not backing him on for his stance on Uighar as they are human too.
More than just a footballer ❤
Height: 1.8 m
Spouse: Amine Gülşe (m. 2019)
Current team: Arsenal F.C. (#10 / Midfielder)
Salary: 18.2 million GBP (2020)
Children: Eda Özil
Granit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka
Arsenal and Swiss midfield star Granit Xhaka is one of the Muslim team stars at the North London side. Bought from German side Borussia Monchengladbach for a fee of around £35 million, the Swiss star has had a decent first season.
His father Ragip was a political prisoner. At the age of 22, as a student at University of Pristina, he was arrested for participating in a 1986 student demonstration against the central government in Belgrade, and served three and a half years of a six-year prison sentence before being released in 1990. Their family moved from Podujevo, District of Pristina to Switzerland that year.
His older brother, Taulant Xhaka, is a professional footballer and plays for FC Basel and the Albania national team.
Arsenal and Swiss midfield star Granit Xhaka is one of the three Muslim first team stars (along with Ozil and Mustafi) at the North London side. Bought from German side Borussia Monchengladbach for a fee of around £35 million, the Swiss star has had a decent first season.
Capable of breaking up play and setting up attacks with equal ease, Xhaka after a tough settling period showed his true game towards the end of the season where he played a crucial role in Arsenal’s stunning FA Cup triumph over Chelsea.
Not afraid of crunching into tackles, Xhaka’s physical presence in the centre of the field coupled with his ball playing skills gives Arsene Wenger’s side a new dimension and it will be interesting to see how the Swiis midfielder fares in his second season at the Premier League club.
Height: 1.85 m
Spouse: Leonita Lekaj (m. 2017)
Current teams: Arsenal F.C. (#34 / Midfielder), Switzerland national football team (Midfielder)
Siblings: Taulant Xhaka, Agnesa Xhaka
Nationality: Kosovar, Swiss
Sadio Mané
Sadio Mané
“Religion is very important to me. I respect the rules of Islam and I pray five times a day, always. I won't touch alcohol. There was no conflict between religion and the fact that I wanted to play football. I was brought up correctly and in the right way and my parents are proud of the fact that I am a footballer.”
In fact, Mane’s father was even the Imam of a local mosque at his home country in Senegal. A true superstar in Africa, Mane is determined to give back to the region he came from and make it a better place.
Known for his finishing, dribbling, and speed, Mané is considered one of the best players in the world.
Height: 1.75 m
Nationality: Senegalese
Current teams: Liverpool F.C. (#10 / Forward), Senegal national football team (#10 / Forward)
Dates joined: 2016 (Liverpool F.C.), 2014 (Southampton F.C.)
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah
Salah and his wife, Maggi, married in 2013. Their daughter, Makka, born in 2014, is named in honour of the Islamic holy city of Mecca. He had another daughter, Kayan, born in 2020.
Born in Egypt, Salah began his professional career with the Egyptian club El Mokawloon followed by joining FC Basel in Switzerland. After short spells at Chelsea, Fiorentina, and Roma he finally joined Liverpool for a then club-record fee of £36.9 million.
The forward went on to break the Premier League scoring record by netting 32 goals in the 2017/2018 season securing the Premier League Golden Boot and PFA Players' Player of the Year after netting 32 goals in 36 league games.
His magical performance also handed him a third spot for the 2018 Best FIFA Men's Player award.
In the 2018/2019 season, Salah was the top join goalscorer and led Liverpool to win the UEFA Champions League.
Salah was key in helping Liverpool end its 30-year league title drought by winning the 2019–20 Premier League.
Famously known as the "The Pharoah" or "The Egyptian Messi" by fans worldwide, Mohamed Salah is easily one of the best football players around the world. Salah’s trademark goal celebration often involves performing Sujood.
Fun fact: During the 2008 presidential elections in Egypt, more than one million people added Salah’s name on their ballot paper casting him their vote. Salah would have been the second-best choice for the presidency had the votes been counted as legal.
Many believe that Salah’s presence at Liverpool Football Club has been a direct cause of a fall in Islamophobia in the city. There is no doubt that he was the best Muslim footballer of 2019
Salah has been a revelation for the club, winning the Premier League golden boot in both of his campaigns and playing a leading role in their recent Champions League triumph, scoring the opening goal in the final from the penalty spot.
Therefore, it can be concluded that Salah’s characteristics as a friendly figure in the team had helped ‘humanize’ the Muslim community in general and the football community in particular.
During his goal celebration, Salah lays in the prostrate position to thank God in sujud. On this goal celebration, Salah told CNN, "It's something like praying or thanking God for what I have received, but yeah, it's just praying and praying for a win. I've always done that since I was young, everywhere."
According to researchers at Stanford University, Liverpool FC and Egyptian star Mohammed Salah played an influential role in reducing Islamophobia in the region.
Since his arrival, Merseyside county witnessed a 18.9% drop in anti-Islam crimes and significantly decreased anti-Muslim tweets (7.8% to 3.8%) in comparison to fans of other top-tier English clubs thanks to increase in familiarity with Islam.
In February 2019, both West Ham United and the police investigated Islamophobic abuse towards Mohamed Salah emanating from the home supporters at the London Stadium during a game between West Ham and Liverpool. West Ham said they were investigating a video which allegedly showed fans racially abusing Salah, including for being Muslim. The investigation resulted in the fan being banned for three years.
Video footage was obtained where someone can be heard shouting “Salah, you fucking Muslim, fucking Muslim cunt” at Salah. In October 2020, a West Ham United supporter was convicted of committing a racially-aggravated public order offence. He was fined £400 and banned from football games for three years.
Height: 1.75 m
Spouse: Magi Sadek (m. 2013)
Current teams: Liverpool F.C. (#11 / Forward), Egypt national football team (#10 / Forward)
Awards: PFA Players' Player of the Year,
Children: Kayan Mohamed Salah, Makka Mohamed Salah
Franck Henry Pierre Ribéry is a French professional footballer who plays for Serie A club Fiorentina. He primarily plays as a winger, preferably on the left side, and is known for his pace, energy, skill, and precise passing
When he was two years old, he and his family were involved in a car accident in his hometown, colliding with a lorry.
Ribéry suffered serious facial injuries that resulted in more than one hundred stitches and which left two long scars down the right side of his face, and another across his brows.
Before starting his football career, Ribéry worked as a construction worker with his father. He always refers to those years as a "learning experience."
As one of the greatest wingers of all time, Ribery converted to Islam in 2002 after being inspired by his wife Wahiba who is of Algerian descent. So, he is among those footballers who have converted to Islam. He also added the name Bilal after his conversion.
Speaking about his conversion from Christianity to Islam, Ribery said:
"Religion is my personal thing. I am a believer and since I converted to Islam, I think, I became stronger, I became mentally and physically stronger. Religion did not change my personality or my perception of the world. I pray five times a day, I do it because it enables me to be released and I feel better afterwards"
Born: April 7, 1983 (age 37 years), Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
Height: 1.7 m
Spouse: Wahiba Ribéry (m. 2004)
Current team: ACF Fiorentina (#7 / Midfielder)
Salary: 8.32 million EUR (2016)
Children: Seïf el Islam Ribéry, Hizya Ribéry, Shakinez Ribéry, Mohammed Ribéry, Keltoum Chérifa Marie-Pierre Ribéry
Riyad Karim Mahrez is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Manchester City and captains the Algerian national team. Mahrez began his career as a youth player for French club AAS Sarcelles.
Riyad Mahrez, born 21 February 1991, is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Manchester City and captains the Algerian national team.
As one of the best Muslim football players in European Leagues , Mahrez is known for his specialty in taking superb set-pieces. He has won the EPL title a couple of times and also helped Algeria winning the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mahrez was born in Sarcelles, France, to an Algerian father and a mother of Algerian and Moroccan descent. His father Ahmed was from Beni Snous, Tlemcen District.
Growing up, Mahrez would regularly spend his holidays in Algeria. Mahrez's father had played football in Algeria.
Mahrez is a practicing Muslim and in June 2017, he made the Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca. He married his English girlfriend Rita Johal in 2015. Their daughter, Inaya Mahrez, was born later that year. Mahrez and his wife were reported to have a second daughter, thought to be born in late 2016, but whose name is not known.
Man City ace started dating reality star Dawn Ward’s daughter Taylor after he officially called time on his marriage.
Riyad Mahrez comes from a country where 98% of the population is Muslim. The Algerian midfielder is one firm believer in the Islamic faith.
Mahrez has witnessed a meteoric rise in his career since moving to England in January 2014. His phenomenal performances which helped Leicester win the Premier League in 2016 are well-documented.
If you’ve ever watched Mahrez, you’d agree he’s a classy player with guile and flair.
Born: February 21, 1991 (age 29 years), Sarcelles, France
Height: 1.79 m
Weight: 67 kg
Current teams: Manchester City F.C. (#26 / Forward), Algeria national football team (#7 / Forward)
Nationality: Algerian, French, Moroccan
Children: Inaya Mahrez
Karim Mostafa Benzema is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for Spanish club Real Madrid and the France national team.
As one of the most popular Muslim players in Europe, Karim Mostafa Benzema was born on the 19 December 1987 in Lyon. He is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for Spanish club Real Madrid and the France national team.
He has been described as a talented striker who is both strong and a potent finisher on the pitch.
Benzema secured 3 Champions League won in 2017, 2016, and 2014 in the final match with Real Madrid.
Benzema began his football career with local club Bron Terraillon. In 1996, he joined Olympique Lyonnais, and subsequently came through the club's youth academy.
In 2009, it was announced that Lyon had reached an agreement with Spanish club Real Madrid for the transfer of Benzema.
The transfer fee was announced to be €35 million with the fee rising to as much as €41 million based on incentives. Benzema successfully passed his medical test and signed his contract, which was a six-year deal.
As a practicing Muslim, Benzema observes fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. His grandfather, Da Lakehal Benzema, lived in the village of Tigzirt, located in the northern town of Beni Djellil in Algeria before migrating to Lyon, where he eventually settled in the 1950s.
Benzema's father, Hafid, was born in Tigzirt, while his mother, Wahida Djebbara, was born and raised in Lyon. Benzema is the third youngest in the family and grew up with eight other siblings in Bron, an eastern suburb of Lyon.
His younger brothers Gressy and Sabri are also footballers. In 2014, his daughter Mélia was born and his son Ibrahim was born in 2017.
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is another Real Madrid star who practices Islam. One of the biggest stars in Zidane’s team, Benzema is a devout Muslim who follows fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.
Children: Kayan Mohamed Salah, Makka Mohamed Salah
Franck Ribéry
Franck Ribéry
When he was two years old, he and his family were involved in a car accident in his hometown, colliding with a lorry.
Ribéry suffered serious facial injuries that resulted in more than one hundred stitches and which left two long scars down the right side of his face, and another across his brows.
Before starting his football career, Ribéry worked as a construction worker with his father. He always refers to those years as a "learning experience."
"Religion is my personal thing. I am a believer and since I converted to Islam, I think, I became stronger, I became mentally and physically stronger. Religion did not change my personality or my perception of the world. I pray five times a day, I do it because it enables me to be released and I feel better afterwards"
Born: April 7, 1983 (age 37 years), Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
Height: 1.7 m
Spouse: Wahiba Ribéry (m. 2004)
Current team: ACF Fiorentina (#7 / Midfielder)
Salary: 8.32 million EUR (2016)
Children: Seïf el Islam Ribéry, Hizya Ribéry, Shakinez Ribéry, Mohammed Ribéry, Keltoum Chérifa Marie-Pierre Ribéry
Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez, born 21 February 1991, is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Manchester City and captains the Algerian national team.
As one of the best Muslim football players in European Leagues , Mahrez is known for his specialty in taking superb set-pieces. He has won the EPL title a couple of times and also helped Algeria winning the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mahrez was born in Sarcelles, France, to an Algerian father and a mother of Algerian and Moroccan descent. His father Ahmed was from Beni Snous, Tlemcen District.
Mahrez is a practicing Muslim and in June 2017, he made the Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca. He married his English girlfriend Rita Johal in 2015. Their daughter, Inaya Mahrez, was born later that year. Mahrez and his wife were reported to have a second daughter, thought to be born in late 2016, but whose name is not known.
Man City ace started dating reality star Dawn Ward’s daughter Taylor after he officially called time on his marriage.
Riyad Mahrez comes from a country where 98% of the population is Muslim. The Algerian midfielder is one firm believer in the Islamic faith.
Mahrez has witnessed a meteoric rise in his career since moving to England in January 2014. His phenomenal performances which helped Leicester win the Premier League in 2016 are well-documented.
If you’ve ever watched Mahrez, you’d agree he’s a classy player with guile and flair.
Height: 1.79 m
Weight: 67 kg
Current teams: Manchester City F.C. (#26 / Forward), Algeria national football team (#7 / Forward)
Nationality: Algerian, French, Moroccan
Children: Inaya Mahrez
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema
He has been described as a talented striker who is both strong and a potent finisher on the pitch.
Benzema secured 3 Champions League won in 2017, 2016, and 2014 in the final match with Real Madrid.
Benzema began his football career with local club Bron Terraillon. In 1996, he joined Olympique Lyonnais, and subsequently came through the club's youth academy.
In 2009, it was announced that Lyon had reached an agreement with Spanish club Real Madrid for the transfer of Benzema.
The transfer fee was announced to be €35 million with the fee rising to as much as €41 million based on incentives. Benzema successfully passed his medical test and signed his contract, which was a six-year deal.
As a practicing Muslim, Benzema observes fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. His grandfather, Da Lakehal Benzema, lived in the village of Tigzirt, located in the northern town of Beni Djellil in Algeria before migrating to Lyon, where he eventually settled in the 1950s.
Benzema's father, Hafid, was born in Tigzirt, while his mother, Wahida Djebbara, was born and raised in Lyon. Benzema is the third youngest in the family and grew up with eight other siblings in Bron, an eastern suburb of Lyon.
His younger brothers Gressy and Sabri are also footballers. In 2014, his daughter Mélia was born and his son Ibrahim was born in 2017.
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is another Real Madrid star who practices Islam. One of the biggest stars in Zidane’s team, Benzema is a devout Muslim who follows fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.
Height: 1.85 m
Spouse: Cora Gauthier
Current team: Real Madrid C.F. (#9 / Forward)
Salary: 7.92 million GBP (2016)
Siblings: Gressy Benzema, Nafissa Benzema, Sabri Benzema
İlkay Gündoğan
Emre Can
As a versatile player, Can has also played as a defensive midfielder, center back, and full back.
Can was born in Frankfurt but his parents are Turkish and he explained how they had been left hurt by a recent experience when he flew with them to Germany from the UK. His mother was wearing a hijab, a veil worn by Muslim women.
“Two months ago I had a day off and I wanted to fly to Germany. I had to book at the last minute,” Can said.
“My mum was wearing a hijab. She was here with my dad. We couldn’t sit together on the plane.
“There were two seats next to each other. My mum and dad wanted to sit together but they had other seats.
“My best mate was there too and he asked the man ‘can they sit there please?’ He said ‘no, show me your ticket’.
“My friend said ‘please, they just want to sit together’ and the man said ‘no’ again. The reason he said no was because my mum was wearing a hijab. It was a bad thing. It was racist.
“It was actually a former player but he didn’t see me as I was at the back of the plane.”
Adnan Januzaj
The 18-year-old was scouted by Man United from Anderlechts academy in 2011. United beat Barcelona in the race to sign this youngster for just £297,000.
“Adnan is a beautifully balanced player. He’s only 18 and still to grow into his frame. But he has good balance, good acceleration and he’s a very good technical player.” – Sir Alex Ferguson
The precocious Belgian’s dribbling style is characteristic of a skilfully hockey player keeping the ball very close to his body whilst moving at speed.
The name Adnan is of Arabic origin meaning ‘settler’ or ‘to stay’. Thankfully it’s far easier to pronounce too.
Valon Behrami
The 184-com footballer, Behrami, played his first international match in the Swiss squad against France in October 2005.
Appearing at Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, UEFA EURO 2008 and World CUP Brazil 2014, France Euro 2016 is now the midfielder’s fifth major international tournament.
Arda Turan
Seydou Keita
Djibril Sidibe
Nabil Fekir
He was named Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year in 2014-15.
Fekir was also named the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year in both 2014–15 and 2017–18 as well as the UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month in October 2017.
As with any field, we pray the best for our Muslim brothers to be able to give their best.
Yaya Touré
The physical midfielder scored six goals in 118 matches for Barcelona between 2007 and 2010.
The Ivorian announced his retirement in late 2018 but managed some more months at the Chinese side QD Huanghai in 2019.
Toure mentioned several times he was forced to refuse champagne for Man of the Match performances for Manchester City because of his religion
Touré aspired to be a striker during his youth and has played centre-back, including for Barcelona in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final.
The attitude towards Muslim players are showing movement of change. The Premier league halted its tradition of giving champagne as a man-of-the-match award and altered it to a trophy when Muslim Manchester City star Yaya Touré began winning it on a regular basis.
Born: May 13, 1983 (age 37 years), Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire
Height: 1.88 m
Spouse: Gineba Touré (m. 2004)
Salary: 15 million USD (2012)
Number: 42 (Manchester City F.C. / Midfielder), 42 (Olympiacos F.C. / Midfielder), 15 (AS Monaco FC / Midfielder)
Siblings: Kolo Touré, Ibrahim Touré, Aicha Toure
Kolo Touré
Born: March 19, 1981 (age 39 years), Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire
Spouse: Awo Touré (m. 2012)
Current team: Leicester City F.C. (first team coach)
Number: 5 (Arsenal F.C. / Defender), 4 (Liverpool F.C. / Defender), 28 (Manchester City F.C. / Defender), 2 (Celtic F.C. / Defender)
Siblings: Yaya Touré, Ibrahim Touré, Aicha Toure
Children: Yiassin Touré, Sania Touré, Yaya Touré
Salomon Kalou
Salomon Kalou
He previously played for Feyenoord from 2003 to 2006 and Chelsea from 2006 to 2012.
Born: August 5, 1985 (age 35 years), Oume, Côte d’Ivoire
Height: 1.84 m
Nationality: Ivorian
Current team: Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas (Midfielder)
Height: 1.84 m
Nationality: Ivorian
Current team: Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas (Midfielder)
Salary: 3.12 million EUR (2012)
Siblings: Bonaventure Kalou
Islam Feruz
Islam Feruz
Feruz spent most of his youth career with Celtic, before moving to Chelsea in September 2011 after rejecting a professional contract with the Scottish club.
Born: September 10, 1995 (age 25 years), Kismayo, Somalia
Height: 1.63 m
Nationality: Scottish
Number: 20 (Hibernian F.C. / Forward),
Dates joined: 2017 (Swindon Town F.C.),
Position: Forward, Midfielder
Armand Traoré
Armand Traoré
Traoré is a product of the Arsenal Academy.
He has represented France at under-19 and under-21 levels, but has since opted to represent his parents' native country, Senegal, at senior level.
Born: October 8, 1989 (age 31 years), Châtenay-Malabry, France
Weight: 82 kg
Spouse: Louise Traore
Number: 32 (Cardiff City F.C. / Defender),
Children: Hayyan Traore
Bacary Sagna
Bacary Sagna
His former manager at Arsenal, Arsène Wenger, once described him as the best right-back in the Premier League.
Born: February 14, 1983 (age 37 years), Sens, France
Height: 1.76 m
Spouse: Ludivine Kadri Sagna (m. 2010)
Number: 3 (Arsenal F.C. / Defender), 3 (Manchester City F.C. / Defender), 83 (Benevento Calcio / Defender)
Children: Elias Sagna, Kais Sagna
Movies: N.O.L.A Circus
Abou Diaby
Abou Diaby
He played primarily in a box to box role, adept at both attacking and defending.
Described as a player who was "languid, elusive, and athletic" that could either "dribble past opponents or slip passes to team-mates".
Born: May 11, 1986 (age 34 years), Aubervilliers, France
Height: 1.91 m
Nationality: French
Salary: 3.38 million GBP (2014)
Position: Midfielder
Number: 24 (Arsenal F.C. / Midfielder), 5 (Olympique de Marseille / Midfielder), 24 (AJ Auxerre / Midfielder)
Nacer Barazite is a Dutch footballer.
Height: 1.91 m
Nationality: French
Salary: 3.38 million GBP (2014)
Position: Midfielder
Number: 24 (Arsenal F.C. / Midfielder), 5 (Olympique de Marseille / Midfielder), 24 (AJ Auxerre / Midfielder)
Nacer Barazite
Nacer Barazite
Barazite can play either as an attacking midfielder or striker.
He's also featured for English clubs Arsenal & Derby County and Holland's Vitesse Arnhem.
Born: May 27, 1990 (age 30 years), Arnhem, Netherlands
Height: 1.88 m
Weight: 83 kg
Current team: Al Jazira Club (Midfielder)
Parents: Hassan Barazite
Siblings: Younes Barazite
Marouane Chamakh is a former professional footballer who played as a forward.
Height: 1.88 m
Weight: 83 kg
Current team: Al Jazira Club (Midfielder)
Parents: Hassan Barazite
Siblings: Younes Barazite
Marouane Chamakh
Marouane Chamakh
He is described as a prototypical target man and is noted for his "link-up play", "tall stature" and "excellent heading ability". Chamakh is also Bordeaux’s eighth highest goalscorer of all-time.
Born: January 10, 1984 (age 36 years), Tonneins, France
Career start: 2002
Career end: May 26, 2019
Number: 29 (FC Girondins de Bordeaux / Forward), 29 (Crystal Palace F.C. / Forward), 27 (Cardiff City F.C. / Forward)
Siblings: Amal Chamakh, Yassin Chamakh
Nationality: French, Moroccan
Johan Djourou
Johan Djourou
Born: January 18, 1987 (age 33 years), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Height: 1.91 m
Spouse: Emilie Djourou
Current team: FC Nordsjælland (#28 / Defender)
Salary: 2.6 million GBP (2012)
Children: Aliany Djourou
Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional football coach and former player who is currently the manager of Major League Soccer club Montreal Impact.
He is considered one of the greatest strikers of all time and has often been debated as the greatest player in the history of the Premier League.
While Franck Ribery and Eric Abidal are well known for being Muslim converts, many fans may be unfamiliar with other football players who converted to Islam, such as Thierry Henry
French football player and Arsenal’s legend striker, Thierry Henry, announced his conversion to Islam in December 2008 on the former Aljazeera Sports Channel, now beIN sports.
Henry told the Qatar-based channel that his Muslim mates in the national club, Franck Ribery and Eric Abidal, had played a significant role in his conversion.
Height: 1.91 m
Spouse: Emilie Djourou
Current team: FC Nordsjælland (#28 / Defender)
Salary: 2.6 million GBP (2012)
Children: Aliany Djourou
Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
While Franck Ribery and Eric Abidal are well known for being Muslim converts, many fans may be unfamiliar with other football players who converted to Islam, such as Thierry Henry
French football player and Arsenal’s legend striker, Thierry Henry, announced his conversion to Islam in December 2008 on the former Aljazeera Sports Channel, now beIN sports.
Henry told the Qatar-based channel that his Muslim mates in the national club, Franck Ribery and Eric Abidal, had played a significant role in his conversion.
Born: August 17, 1977 (age 43 years), Les Ulis, France
Height: 1.88 m
Spouse: Claire Merry (m. 2003–2007)
Partner: Andrea Rajacic (2008–)
Teams coached: Montreal Impact (Association football manager, since 2019),
Height: 1.88 m
Spouse: Claire Merry (m. 2003–2007)
Partner: Andrea Rajacic (2008–)
Teams coached: Montreal Impact (Association football manager, since 2019),
Number: 14 (Arsenal F.C. / Forward), 14 (FC Barcelona / Forward),
Oğuzhan Özyakup, also known as Ozzie or Ozzy, is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Beşiktaş and the Turkish national team. Born in Zaandam, the Netherlands, Özyakup has previously featured for clubs AZ and Arsenal.
Oğuzhan Özyakup
Oğuzhan Özyakup
Born: September 23, 1992 (age 28 years), Zaandam, Netherlands
Height: 1.78 m
Salary: 1.3 million EUR (2016)
Current teams: Beşiktaş J.K. Football Team (#10 / Midfielder), Turkey national football team (Midfielder)
Siblings: Şermin Özyakup
Nationality: Dutch, Turkish
Papiss Demba Cissé is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a striker for Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe and the Senegal national team. Formerly of SC Freiburg, he once held the record of most goals scored by an African player in a single Bundesliga campaign – 22 in the 2010–11 season.
Height: 1.78 m
Salary: 1.3 million EUR (2016)
Current teams: Beşiktaş J.K. Football Team (#10 / Midfielder), Turkey national football team (Midfielder)
Siblings: Şermin Özyakup
Nationality: Dutch, Turkish
Papiss Cissé
Papiss Cissé
In July 2013 Newcastle United player Papiss Cissé refused to play in a shirt sponsored by Wonga.com, a payday loan company, as the charging of interest is not permitted under Islamic law. Soon after, he agreed to wear the shirt.
Born: June 3, 1985 (age 35 years), Dakar, Senegal
Height: 1.81 m
Nationality: Senegalese
Weight: 72 kg
Spouse: Awa Diallo (m. 2015)
Current team: Fenerbahçe S.K. (#9 / Forward)
Demba Ba
Demba Ba
He made his first-team debut with French team Rouen in 2005 before moving to Mouscron and onto 1899 Hoffenheim in Germany in 2007.
Born: May 25, 1985 (age 35 years), Sèvres, France
Height: 1.89 m
Weight: 90 kg
Current team: İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. (#19 / Forward)
Height: 1.89 m
Weight: 90 kg
Current team: İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. (#19 / Forward)
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| Cisse and Ba make sujud after win on the match 2-0 newcastle vs chelsea in 2011 |
Salary: 6.7 million USD (2016)
Nationality: French, Senegalese
Hatem Ben Arfa
Hatem Ben Arfa
Known for his dribbling ability, he has been described as "one of the best-rated talents in France" but has been criticised by the media and players alike for lacking discipline.
Born: March 7, 1987 (age 33 years), Clamart, France
Height: 1.79 m
Current team: FC Girondins de Bordeaux (#8 / Midfielder)
Parents: Kamel Ben Arfa, Sonia Ben Arfa
Nominations: FIFA Puskás Award
Nationality: French, Tunisian
Moussa Sissoko is a French professional footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur and the French national team.
Height: 1.79 m
Current team: FC Girondins de Bordeaux (#8 / Midfielder)
Parents: Kamel Ben Arfa, Sonia Ben Arfa
Nominations: FIFA Puskás Award
Nationality: French, Tunisian
Moussa Sissoko
Moussa Sissoko
He plays as a box-to-box midfielder in the centre of the pitch, and is capable of playing in either a holding midfield role, or even as an attacking midfielder, right winger or right back.
Born: August 16, 1989 (age 31 years), Le Blanc-Mesnil, France
Height: 1.87 m
Weight: 90 kg
Salary: 4.16 million GBP (2019)
Current teams: Tottenham Hotspur F.C. (#17 / Midfielder), France national football team (Midfielder)
Nationality: French, Malian
Haris Vučkić is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Segunda División club Zaragoza and the Slovenia national team.
Height: 1.87 m
Weight: 90 kg
Salary: 4.16 million GBP (2019)
Current teams: Tottenham Hotspur F.C. (#17 / Midfielder), France national football team (Midfielder)
Nationality: French, Malian
Haris Vučkić
Haris Vučkić
Vučkić has represented Slovenia international youth selections in every category. He has made his senior debut against Scotland on 29 February 2012.
Born: August 21, 1992 (age 28 years), Ljubljana, Slovenia
Height: 1.86 m
Nationality: Slovenian
Weight: 83 kg
Current teams: Real Zaragoza (#9 / Midfielder), Slovenia national football team (Midfielder)
Siblings: Alen Vučkić
Mehdi Abeid is an Algerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Nantes and the Algeria national team.
Height: 1.86 m
Nationality: Slovenian
Weight: 83 kg
Current teams: Real Zaragoza (#9 / Midfielder), Slovenia national football team (Midfielder)
Siblings: Alen Vučkić
Mehdi Abeid
Mehdi Abeid
Born: August 6, 1992 (age 28 years), Montreuil, France
Height: 1.8 m
Weight: 84 kg
Salary: 608,640 EUR (2013)
Current teams: FC Nantes (#8 / Midfielder), Algeria national football team (#19 / Midfielder)
Nationality: Algerian, French
Frédéric Oumar Kanouté is a Malian-French former professional footballer who played as a striker for several top-tier clubs in Europe, enjoying his greatest success with La Liga side Sevilla.
Height: 1.8 m
Weight: 84 kg
Salary: 608,640 EUR (2013)
Current teams: FC Nantes (#8 / Midfielder), Algeria national football team (#19 / Midfielder)
Nationality: Algerian, French
Frédéric Kanouté
Frédéric Kanouté
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| Kanouté praying and make sujud |
Born: September 2, 1977 (age 43 years), Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, France
Height: 1.93 m
Spouse: Fatima Kanoute
Dates joined: 2012 (Beijing Sinobo Guoan F.C., Beijing Sinobo Guoan F.C.),
Number: 20 (Olympique Lyonnais / Forward), 11 (Beijing Sinobo Guoan F.C. / Forward)
Nationality: French, Malian
Emir Spahić is a Bosnian former professional footballer who played as a centre back.
Height: 1.93 m
Spouse: Fatima Kanoute
Dates joined: 2012 (Beijing Sinobo Guoan F.C., Beijing Sinobo Guoan F.C.),
Number: 20 (Olympique Lyonnais / Forward), 11 (Beijing Sinobo Guoan F.C. / Forward)
Nationality: French, Malian
Emir Spahić
Emir Spahić
During his club career, he represented teams in his homeland, Croatia, Russia, France, Spain and Germany.
Born: August 18, 1980 (age 40 years), Dubrovnik, Croatia
Height: 1.83 m
Spouse: Azra Spahić (m. 2012)
Number: 4 (Hamburger SV / Defender), 4 (Sevilla FC / Defender),
Parents: Fatima Spahić, Ramiz Spahic
Siblings: Alen Spahić, Nermin Spahić, Amir Spahić
Arouna Koné is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Sivasspor, and is a former Ivory Coast national team international. After making a name for himself in the Eredivisie, with Roda JC and PSV, he signed with Sevilla in 2007, where he rarely appeared due to injury and loans.
Height: 1.83 m
Spouse: Azra Spahić (m. 2012)
Number: 4 (Hamburger SV / Defender), 4 (Sevilla FC / Defender),
Parents: Fatima Spahić, Ramiz Spahic
Siblings: Alen Spahić, Nermin Spahić, Amir Spahić
Arouna Koné
Arouna Koné
Born: November 11, 1983 (age 37 years), Anyama, Côte d’Ivoire
Height: 1.81 m
Current team: Sivasspor (#2 / Forward)
Salary: 1.56 million GBP (2013)
Children: Amidou Koné
Siblings: Bakari Koné, Karamoko Koné
Nabil El Zhar
Nabil El Zhar
Born: August 27, 1986 (age 34 years), Alès, France
Height: 1.75 m
Weight: 71 kg
Current team: Al Ahli SC (#10 / Midfielder)
Nationality: French, Moroccan
Parents: Amina Sankour, Kacem El Zhar
Rami Shaaban
Rami Shaaban
He is the son of an Egyptian father and a Finnish mother.
During his career he played for a number of teams in England, including Arsenal, and in Sweden.
He was a Swedish national team member until 2008.
He ended his playing career after the 2011 season.
Born: June 30, 1975 (age 45 years), Solna Municipality, Sweden
Nationality: Swedish
Height: 1.93 m
Weight: 93 kg
Position: Goalkeeper
Dates joined: 2008 (Hammarby Fotboll), 2004 (West Ham United F.C.), 2002 (Arsenal F.C.)
Suleyman Ali "Sulley" Muntari is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder. During his time with Internazionale, he helped the team win the Champions League in 2009–10 and the Serie A title in 2008–09 and 2009–10. He was also part of the Portsmouth team that won the FA Cup in 2007–08.
Children: Jamal Krasie Muntari
Samir Handanović is a Slovenian professional footballer who serves as captain and plays as a goalkeeper for Italian club Inter Milan. Before moving to Italy Handanović played in his home country of Slovenia. 
Salary: 1.7 million EUR (2012)
Senad Lulić is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder and captains Serie A club Lazio. Lulić started his professional career at Chur 97, before joining Bellinzona in 2006. 
Born: December 26, 1989 (age 30 years), Levallois-Perret, France
Height: 1.77 m
Weight: 71 kg
Career start: 1998
Current teams: Galatasaray S.K. (#89 / Midfielder), Algeria national football team (#10 / Midfielder)
Nationality: Algerian, French
Mehmet Topal is a Turkish professional footballer who plays for İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. as a defensive midfielder. He was nicknamed Örümcek, due to his ability to use his long legs to win loose balls or cut passes. 
Born: March 3, 1986 (age 34 years), Malatya, Turkey
Nationality: Turkish
Shoe size: 46
Spouse: Selda Duman (m. 2010)
Current team: İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. (#5 / Midfielder)
Salary: 2 million EUR (2012)
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Mouhamadou Dabo is a French professional footballer who plays as a right-back, but has played left-back. He most recently played for Caen in Ligue 1. 
Parents: Miljaim Sulejmani
Salary: 700,000 EUR (2013)
Mounir El Hamdaoui is a professional footballer who plays as a forward. He previously played for Excelsior, Tottenham Hotspur, Derby County, Willem II, AZ Alkmaar and Ajax, before joining Fiorentina in 2012. 
Nationality: Dutch, Moroccan
Ismaïl Aissati is a Moroccan footballer who plays for Denizlispor as a midfielder. Born in Utrecht to Moroccan parents, Aissati was eligible to represent either nation. He represented the Netherlands at U21 level, before opting to represent Morocco in 2007 instead. 
Nationality: Egyptian, Italian
Adel Taarabt is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Portuguese club Benfica and the Morocco national team. 
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Height: 1.78 m
Weight: 77 kg
Salary: 2.6 million GBP (2013) 
Current teams: S.L. Benfica (#49 / Midfielder), Morocco national football team (Midfielder) 
Nationality: French, Moroccan
Miralem Pjanić is a Bosnian-Herzegovinian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Spanish club Barcelona and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. Pjanić started his professional career at Metz being there for one season. 
Born: January 22, 1985 (age 35 years), Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
Spouse: Sokona
Salary: 3.84 million EUR (2011)
Number: 4 (Paris Saint-Germain F.C. / Midfielder),
Siblings: Abdoul Sissoko, Noé Sissoko
Nationality: French, Malian
Adam Mohamad El-Abd is a professional footballer who is player-assistant manager at Whitehawk. He has also played for the Egypt national team.
Nationality: Swedish
Height: 1.93 m
Weight: 93 kg
Position: Goalkeeper
Dates joined: 2008 (Hammarby Fotboll), 2004 (West Ham United F.C.), 2002 (Arsenal F.C.)
Sulley Muntari
Sulley Muntari
Born: August 27, 1984 (age 36 years), Konongo, Ghana
Height: 1.79 m
Spouse: Menaye Donkor (m. 2010)
Salary: 1.5 million EUR (2012)
Current teams: Deportivo de La Coruña (#21 / Midfielder), Ghana national football team (Midfielder)
Height: 1.79 m
Spouse: Menaye Donkor (m. 2010)
Salary: 1.5 million EUR (2012)
Current teams: Deportivo de La Coruña (#21 / Midfielder), Ghana national football team (Midfielder)
Children: Jamal Krasie Muntari
Samir Handanović
Samir Handanović
Born: July 14, 1984 (age 36 years), Ljubljana, Slovenia
Height: 1.93 m
Nationality: Slovenian
Current team: Inter Milan (#1 / Goalkeeper)
Spouse: Zoja Trobec (m. 2012)
Salary: 1.85 million EUR (2015)
Lorik Agim Cana is an Albanian former professional footballer. He is currently the Grassroots ambassador for children's football in Albania, named by the Albanian Football Association on 26 October 2017.
Height: 1.93 m
Nationality: Slovenian
Current team: Inter Milan (#1 / Goalkeeper)
Spouse: Zoja Trobec (m. 2012)
Salary: 1.85 million EUR (2015)
Lorik Cana
Lorik Cana
Born: July 27, 1983 (age 37 years), Pristina
Height: 1.86 m
Full name: Lorik Agim Cana
Spouse: Monica Ercoli (m. 2014)
Current team: Albania national football team (Defender, Midfielder)
Height: 1.86 m
Full name: Lorik Agim Cana
Spouse: Monica Ercoli (m. 2014)
Current team: Albania national football team (Defender, Midfielder)
Salary: 1.7 million EUR (2012)
Senad Lulić
Senad Lulić
Two years later, he moved to Grasshopper. In 2010, he was transferred to Young Boys.
Born: January 18, 1986 (age 34 years), Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height: 1.83 m
Current team: SS Lazio (#19 / Midfielder)
Spouse: Sandra Lulić
Salary: 750,000 EUR (2012)
Nationality: Bosnian, Swiss
Abdoulaye Konko Faye is a French former footballer, who played as a right-back. He favoured dribbling and could play on either wing.
Height: 1.83 m
Current team: SS Lazio (#19 / Midfielder)
Spouse: Sandra Lulić
Salary: 750,000 EUR (2012)
Nationality: Bosnian, Swiss
Abdoulay Konko
Abdoulay Konko
Born: March 9, 1984 (age 36 years), Marseille, France
Height: 1.84 m
Nationality: French
Salary: 1.3 million EUR (2012)
Number: 25 (Atalanta B.C. / Defender), 29 (SS Lazio / Defender)
Position: Midfielder, Defender
Moustapha Salifou is a Togolese former professional footballer who played mostly as a midfielder. He has represented the Togo national football team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Height: 1.84 m
Nationality: French
Salary: 1.3 million EUR (2012)
Number: 25 (Atalanta B.C. / Defender), 29 (SS Lazio / Defender)
Position: Midfielder, Defender
Moustapha Salifou
Moustapha Salifou
Born: June 1, 1983 (age 37 years), Lome, Togo
Height: 1.8 m
Weight: 70 kg
Current teams: Togo national football team (Midfielder), TSV 1860 Rosenheim (#21 / Midfielder)
Dates joined: 2015 (Turkspor Augsburg)
Adil Rami is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Boavista. Rami began his football career playing for amateur club Étoile Fréjus Saint-Raphaël, then known as ES Fréjus.
A Moroccan-born central defender, with French nationality, Adil plays for the French club Marseille. He won the ‘Ligue 1’ in 2010-11 and Coupe de France 2010-11 with Lille. Moreover, he achieved the UEFA Europa League trophy with Sevilla in 2015–16 and made it to the UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season for the same season.
Height: 1.8 m
Weight: 70 kg
Current teams: Togo national football team (Midfielder), TSV 1860 Rosenheim (#21 / Midfielder)
Dates joined: 2015 (Turkspor Augsburg)
Adil Rami
Adil Rami
A Moroccan-born central defender, with French nationality, Adil plays for the French club Marseille. He won the ‘Ligue 1’ in 2010-11 and Coupe de France 2010-11 with Lille. Moreover, he achieved the UEFA Europa League trophy with Sevilla in 2015–16 and made it to the UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season for the same season.
Born: December 27, 1985 (age 34 years), Bastia, France
Height: 1.9 m
Weight: 88 kg
Career start: 1994
Current teams: Boavista F.C. (#3 / Defender), Sevilla FC (Defender)
Nationality: French, Moroccan
Sofiane Feghouli is a professional footballer who plays for Turkish Süper Lig club Galatasaray and the Algeria national team. He mainly operates as a right midfielder, but can also play as a winger and as an attacking midfielder. Feghouli made his senior international debut for Algeria in February 2012.
Height: 1.9 m
Weight: 88 kg
Career start: 1994
Current teams: Boavista F.C. (#3 / Defender), Sevilla FC (Defender)
Nationality: French, Moroccan
Sofiane Feghouli
Sofiane Feghouli
Born: December 26, 1989 (age 30 years), Levallois-Perret, France
Height: 1.77 m
Weight: 71 kg
Career start: 1998
Current teams: Galatasaray S.K. (#89 / Midfielder), Algeria national football team (#10 / Midfielder)
Nationality: Algerian, French
Mehmet Topal
Mehmet Topal
Born: March 3, 1986 (age 34 years), Malatya, Turkey
Nationality: Turkish
Shoe size: 46
Spouse: Selda Duman (m. 2010)
Current team: İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. (#5 / Midfielder)
Salary: 2 million EUR (2012)
Mouhamadou Dabo
Mouhamadou Dabo
Born: November 28, 1986 (age 33 years), Dakar, Senegal
Height: 1.76 m
Weight: 65 kg
Career start: 2003
Current team: Stade Malherbe Caen (#23 / Defender)
Aly Cissokho is a French professional footballer who last played for AFC Blois 1995.
Height: 1.76 m
Weight: 65 kg
Career start: 2003
Current team: Stade Malherbe Caen (#23 / Defender)
Aly Cissokho
Aly Cissokho
He plays as a left back and has been described as a "sprightly left-back with good speed and stamina".
Cissokho began his career playing for local clubs within his hometown, such as Blois Foot 41.
Born: September 15, 1987 (age 33 years), Blois, France
Height: 1.81 m
Weight: 75 kg
Current team: Antalyaspor (#41 / Defender)
Salary: 2.4 million EUR (2012)
Siblings: Issa Cissokho, Mamadou Cissokho, Demba Cissokho
Miralem Sulejmani is a Serbian professional football player who plays as a winger for the Serbia national team. When he signed for Ajax in 2008, he became the most expensive football player to have ever been purchased by a Dutch club.
Height: 1.81 m
Weight: 75 kg
Current team: Antalyaspor (#41 / Defender)
Salary: 2.4 million EUR (2012)
Siblings: Issa Cissokho, Mamadou Cissokho, Demba Cissokho
Miralem Sulejmani
Miralem Sulejmani
Born: December 5, 1988 (age 31 years), Batajnica, Belgrade, Serbia
Nationality: Serbian
Height: 1.78 m
Current team: BSC Young Boys (#10 / Midfielder)
Nationality: Serbian
Height: 1.78 m
Current team: BSC Young Boys (#10 / Midfielder)
Parents: Miljaim Sulejmani
Salary: 700,000 EUR (2013)
Mounir El Hamdaoui
Mounir El Hamdaoui
Born: July 14, 1984 (age 36 years), Rotterdam, Netherlands
Height: 1.83 m
Weight: 79 kg
Current team: Al Kharaitiyat SC (Forward)
Salary: 1.1 million EUR (2012)
Height: 1.83 m
Weight: 79 kg
Current team: Al Kharaitiyat SC (Forward)
Salary: 1.1 million EUR (2012)
Nationality: Dutch, Moroccan
Ismaïl Aissati
Ismaïl Aissati
Born: August 16, 1988 (age 32 years), Utrecht, Netherlands
Height: 1.76 m
Weight: 70 kg
Career start: 2005
Current team: Denizlispor (#10 / Midfielder)
Nationality: Dutch, Moroccan
Stephan Kareem El Shaarawy is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua and the Italy national team. He is nicknamed Il Faraone, as his father is Egyptian. He began his career at Genoa, and was signed by Milan in 2011 after a successful loan at Padova.
Height: 1.76 m
Weight: 70 kg
Career start: 2005
Current team: Denizlispor (#10 / Midfielder)
Nationality: Dutch, Moroccan
Stephan El Shaarawy
Stephan El Shaarawy
Born: October 27, 1992 (age 28 years), Savona, Italy
Height: 1.78 m
Salary: 800,000 EUR (2012)
Current teams: Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C. (#22 / Forward), Italy national football team (Forward)
Parents: Sabri El Shaarawy, Lucy El Shaarawy
Height: 1.78 m
Salary: 800,000 EUR (2012)
Current teams: Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C. (#22 / Forward), Italy national football team (Forward)
Parents: Sabri El Shaarawy, Lucy El Shaarawy
Nationality: Egyptian, Italian
Adel Taarabt
Adel Taarabt
Taarabt began his playing career in France at Lens before moving to English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in 2007.
Born: May 24, 1989 (age 31 years), Taza, Morocco
Height: 1.78 m
Weight: 77 kg
Salary: 2.6 million GBP (2013)
Current teams: S.L. Benfica (#49 / Midfielder), Morocco national football team (Midfielder)
Nationality: French, Moroccan
Miralem Pjanić
Miralem Pjanić
Born: April 2, 1990 (age 30 years), Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height: 1.78 m
Partner: Josepha Pjanić
Salary: 6.5 million EUR (2018)
Current teams: FC Barcelona (#8 / Midfielder), Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team (Midfielder)
Nationality: Bosnian, Luxembourgish, Yugoslav
Mohamed Lamine Sissoko is a former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. Born in France, he could have elected to play for France internationally, but chose instead to play for the national side of his ancestral country, Mali.
Height: 1.78 m
Partner: Josepha Pjanić
Salary: 6.5 million EUR (2018)
Current teams: FC Barcelona (#8 / Midfielder), Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team (Midfielder)
Nationality: Bosnian, Luxembourgish, Yugoslav
Mohamed Sissoko
Mohamed Sissoko
Born: January 22, 1985 (age 35 years), Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
Spouse: Sokona
Salary: 3.84 million EUR (2011)
Number: 4 (Paris Saint-Germain F.C. / Midfielder),
Siblings: Abdoul Sissoko, Noé Sissoko
Nationality: French, Malian
Adam El-Abd
Adam El-Abd
Born: September 11, 1984 (age 36 years), Brighton, United Kingdom
Height: 1.8 m
Weight: 88 kg
Career start: 2003
Current team: Stevenage F.C. (#27 / Defender)
Siblings: Joe El-Abd, Sami El-Abd
Ahmed Hossam Hussein Abdelhamid, publicly known as Mido, is an Egyptian football manager and former player who played as a striker. Mido started his career with Zamalek in Egypt in 1999. He left the club for Gent of Belgium in 2000, where he won the Belgian Ebony Shoe.
Height: 1.8 m
Weight: 88 kg
Career start: 2003
Current team: Stevenage F.C. (#27 / Defender)
Siblings: Joe El-Abd, Sami El-Abd
Mido
Mido
There have been numerous cases of anti-Muslim abuse aimed at Muslim footballers. In 2005 Egyptian footballer Mido whilst playing for Tottenham Hostpur was taunted by fans of West Ham United with "Your mum's a terrorist" and as a shoe bomber due to his likeness to Richard Reid.
In 2007, Mido, then playing for Middlesbrough was taunted by Newcastle United fans with anti-Muslim abuse.
Born: February 23, 1983 (age 37 years), Cairo, Egypt
Full name: Ahmed Hossam Hussein Abdelhamid
Height: 1.88 m
Spouse: Yosra Wael (m. 2002)
Teams coached: Misr Lel Makkasa SC (Association football manager, 2019–2020),
Dates joined: 2012 (Barnsley F.C.), 2011 (Zamalek SC)
Ali Abdullah Harib Al-Habsi is an Omani retired professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Full name: Ahmed Hossam Hussein Abdelhamid
Height: 1.88 m
Spouse: Yosra Wael (m. 2002)
Teams coached: Misr Lel Makkasa SC (Association football manager, 2019–2020),
Dates joined: 2012 (Barnsley F.C.), 2011 (Zamalek SC)
Ali Al-Habsi
Ali Al-Habsi
Born: December 30, 1981 (age 38 years), Muscat, Oman
Height: 1.94 m
Spouse: Basma Al-Habsi
Salary: 3 million USD (2011)
Current teams: Al Hilal SFC (Goalkeeper), Oman national football team (Goalkeeper)
Height: 1.94 m
Spouse: Basma Al-Habsi
Salary: 3 million USD (2011)
Current teams: Al Hilal SFC (Goalkeeper), Oman national football team (Goalkeeper)
Children: Renaad Al-Habsi
Although born in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, one of the most emblematic places in the Community of Madrid, Munir El Haddadi is of Moroccan descent. His father is from Morocco and his mother from Melilla. He arrived at FC Barcelona's La Masia in 2011, aged 16.
Due to work commitments, his parents were unable to come and see him play in a Barca shirt until January 15, 2015, against RCD Espanyol, when he had already been playing at the club for six months
He has always said that had he not become a footballer, he would have been a cop.
Before joining the Catalan club, Munir turned out for CD Galapagar, Santana and Atlético de Madrid, who loaned him to Rayo Majadahonda U-18, from where FC Barcelona signed him.
In his first season as Barca player he lifted two titles: The National League Championship with the Under 18s, where he scored 22 goals, and the title of Champions of Catalonia with the first team, when he scored in a 2-0 final victory over RCD Espanyol.
Now he is fortunate to play alongside his idol, Lionel Messi.
He was the sensation of the inaugural UEFA Youth League in 2014, where he finished as top scorer and top assists provider. One of his goals was scored from midfield.
The first reports received by Barcelona defined him as "a wild player."
He debuted with the Spanish national team on September 8, 2014 in the 5-1 win against Macedonia in the qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2016. He was called up to replace Diego Costa and tied himself to Spain, letting go of his option to represent Morocco.
Eden Hazard is identified as a Belgian professional footballer for Premier League club Chelsea. He possesses incredible creativity and speed, thus allowing him to perfectly fit his current position as a wide midfielder and attacking midfielder in the team. His playing style has earned him much love and support from other players, coaches, the media, and fans from all over the world.
Eden Hazard’s religion is not common knowledge; even among fans of the player and seasoned pundits alike. Two things are responsible for that narrative. Firstly, Hazard rarely ever talks about his religious beliefs, which has led many to assume he doesn’t have one. Secondly, people don’t care so much about a player’s religion, they’re particular about how good he is on the pitch. And Hazard is quite good.
Manchester City went all out to get Benjamin Mendy back in 2017. Barring injuries, the Frenchman takes his seat among the best fullbacks in the Premier League.
Also hailing from Senegal, Mendy is a skillful footballer who plays as a left back for Premier League club, Manchester City and the France national team.
He was noticed reading the Quran once on a flight.
He won Ligue 1 with Monaco before moving to England on a then world-record transfer fee for a defender.
Mendy was born to Monique and Mendy Snr. in Logjumeau, France. Both parents are Muslim and trace their roots to Cote d’Ivoire.
Begovic was born and remains a practising Moslem. The Bosnian shot-stopper is a seasoned professional who remains relevant at the biggest thanks to a career that’s spanned nearly two decades.
Begovic spent nearly 15 years playing for a handful of clubs in England; most notably for Chelsea where he won the Premier League in 2017. The 32-year-old dons the red and black strips of AC Milan where he’s currently on loan.
Tiemoue Bakayoko is a midfielder who currently plies his trade for Chelsea FC.
He signed for the West London side from Ligue 1 side Monaco in the summer of 2017.
Antonio Rüdiger is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Premier League club Chelsea and the Germany national team.
So Chelsea FC player Antonio Rüdiger is a Muslim? 😲😲
I can bet it that none of you know he was a Muslim before now.
I was shocked when I confirmed this today after he shared a photo of himself and his newly born baby on Twitter today.
In fact, most of the commenters on the post express their feelings confirming that they never knew he was a Muslim because he never posts anything Islamic related thing nor his name sounds like that of a Muslim.
Below is what he posted:-
May Almighty Allah watch over the new bundle of joy 🙏🙏🙏
Xherdan Shaqiri is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Liverpool and the Switzerland national team.
Munir El Haddadi
Munir El Haddadi
Due to work commitments, his parents were unable to come and see him play in a Barca shirt until January 15, 2015, against RCD Espanyol, when he had already been playing at the club for six months
He has always said that had he not become a footballer, he would have been a cop.
Before joining the Catalan club, Munir turned out for CD Galapagar, Santana and Atlético de Madrid, who loaned him to Rayo Majadahonda U-18, from where FC Barcelona signed him.
In his first season as Barca player he lifted two titles: The National League Championship with the Under 18s, where he scored 22 goals, and the title of Champions of Catalonia with the first team, when he scored in a 2-0 final victory over RCD Espanyol.
Now he is fortunate to play alongside his idol, Lionel Messi.
He was the sensation of the inaugural UEFA Youth League in 2014, where he finished as top scorer and top assists provider. One of his goals was scored from midfield.
The first reports received by Barcelona defined him as "a wild player."
He debuted with the Spanish national team on September 8, 2014 in the 5-1 win against Macedonia in the qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2016. He was called up to replace Diego Costa and tied himself to Spain, letting go of his option to represent Morocco.
Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard’s religion is not common knowledge; even among fans of the player and seasoned pundits alike. Two things are responsible for that narrative. Firstly, Hazard rarely ever talks about his religious beliefs, which has led many to assume he doesn’t have one. Secondly, people don’t care so much about a player’s religion, they’re particular about how good he is on the pitch. And Hazard is quite good.
Hazard is indeed a Muslim, not just because his Belgian family is, but because he’s subtly revealed it in time past.Bon ramadan a tous...
— Eden Hazard (@hazardeden10) July 19, 2012
Benjamin Mendy
Benjamin Mendy
Also hailing from Senegal, Mendy is a skillful footballer who plays as a left back for Premier League club, Manchester City and the France national team.
He was noticed reading the Quran once on a flight.
He won Ligue 1 with Monaco before moving to England on a then world-record transfer fee for a defender.
Mendy was born to Monique and Mendy Snr. in Logjumeau, France. Both parents are Muslim and trace their roots to Cote d’Ivoire.
Asmir Begović
Asmir Begović
Begovic spent nearly 15 years playing for a handful of clubs in England; most notably for Chelsea where he won the Premier League in 2017. The 32-year-old dons the red and black strips of AC Milan where he’s currently on loan.
Tiémoué Bakayoko
Tiémoué Bakayoko
He signed for the West London side from Ligue 1 side Monaco in the summer of 2017.
Antonio Rüdiger
Antonio Rüdiger
So Chelsea FC player Antonio Rüdiger is a Muslim? 😲😲
I can bet it that none of you know he was a Muslim before now.
I was shocked when I confirmed this today after he shared a photo of himself and his newly born baby on Twitter today.
In fact, most of the commenters on the post express their feelings confirming that they never knew he was a Muslim because he never posts anything Islamic related thing nor his name sounds like that of a Muslim.
Below is what he posted:-
Xherdan Shaqiri
Xherdan Shaqiri.
Born: October 10, 1991 (age 29 years), Gjilan
Weight: 72 kg
Salary: 3.38 million GBP (2016)
Current teams: Liverpool F.C. (#23 / Midfielder), Switzerland national football team (Midfielder)
Nationality: Albanian, Kosovar, Swiss
Siblings: Erdin Shaqiri, Arianit Shaqiri, Medina Shaqiri.
Kurt Happy Zouma is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Chelsea and the France national team.
Weight: 72 kg
Salary: 3.38 million GBP (2016)
Current teams: Liverpool F.C. (#23 / Midfielder), Switzerland national football team (Midfielder)
Nationality: Albanian, Kosovar, Swiss
Siblings: Erdin Shaqiri, Arianit Shaqiri, Medina Shaqiri.
Kurt Zouma.
Kurt Zouma.
Zouma began his career at Saint-Étienne, making his professional debut aged 16, and going on to win the Coupe de la Ligue with the club in 2013.
Zouma is a Muslim and made a pilgrimage to Mecca in 2019.
Born: October 27, 1994 (age 26 years), Lyon, France
Height: 1.9 m
Full name: Kurt Happy Zouma
Nationality: French
Spouse: Sandra Zouma
Current teams: Chelsea F.C. (#15 / Defender), France national football team (Defender)
Sead Kolašinac is a professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Premier League club Arsenal and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.
Since moving to the Emirates in 2017, Kolasinac has been a mainstay in the Arsenal first team. The 26-year-old plays for Bosnia and Herzegovina – the country of his Muslim parents.
Born: June 20, 1993 (age 27 years), Karlsruhe, Germany
Height: 1.83 m
Weight: 82 kg
Parents: Faik Kolašinac
Current teams: Arsenal F.C. (#31 / Defender), Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team (#5 / Defender)
Nationality: Bosnian, German
Mohamed Naser Elsayed Elneny is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English Premier League club Arsenal and the Egypt national team.
Elneny began his senior career in the Egyptian Premier League, before moving to Swiss club Basel in January 2013.
Born: July 11, 1992 (age 28 years), El-Mahalla El-Kubra, Egypt
Height: 1.8 m
Nationality: Egyptian
Current teams: Arsenal F.C. (#25 / Midfielder), Egypt national football team (#17 / Midfielder)
Dates joined: August 2019 (Beşiktaş J.K. Football Team), MORE
Children: Fatima Elneny, Malik Mohamed Elneny
Islam Slimani is an Algerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Leicester City and the Algeria national team.
Slimani began his career in his homeland with JSM Chéraga and CR Belouizdad. In 2013, he moved to Europe, signing for Sporting CP.
Born: June 18, 1988 (age 32 years), Algiers, Algeria
Height: 1.88 m
Nationality: Algerian
Weight: 83 kg
Current teams: Leicester City F.C. (#13 / Forward), Algeria national football team (#13 / Forward)
Awards: CAF Africa’s finest XI
Shkodran Mustafi is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for English Premier League club Arsenal and the Germany national team.
Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi, has spoken of how reading the Qur'an and praying have helped him in his personal and career development.
Mustafi, a German international born to Albanian Muslim parents, told Goal.com how he was born into a religious family and embraced his faith after an encounter with teammates at his first club, Everton.
“It started when I was 17 at Everton and I went out with my team-mates and everyone knew me as the German because I was playing for Germany. 'You’re German, how is it possible that you’re not drinking?'" Mustafi explained.
"I said, 'No, I'm Muslim and I'm not drinking' and he asked me, ‘Why are you Muslim?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, my parents are Muslim and I grew up in a Muslim family'.
"Then I got home and thought that was a good question, because I'd never asked myself. It's something that your parents teach you but you never know whether it's good, bad, why am I not drinking, why am I not eating pork, why do I have to pray five times a day.
"I started to read the Qur’an and asking them questions - 'what is the thinking behind that?' - and it became more and more interesting. It's helped me a lot."
Mustafi played just once for Everton before David Moyes let him leave for Sampdoria, and he also spent two seasons in Spain with Valencia before returning to England with the Gunners in August.
And the 24-year-old, who scored his first international goal at Euro 2016, revealed how his strong system of beliefs has helped him in his career.
He said: "Religion is the same in football; if you’re not believing in what you’re doing, then it's useless because you're going to be bad."
Born: April 17, 1992 (age 28 years), Bad Hersfeld, Germany
Height: 1.84 m
Spouse: Vjosa Kaba (m. 2016)
Current team: Arsenal F.C. (#20 / Defender)
Salary: 800,000 EUR (2014)
Nationality: Albanian, German
Marouane Fellaini-Bakkioui is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Chinese club Shandong Luneng Taishan. Born in Etterbeek to Moroccan parents, Fellaini played youth football for Anderlecht, R.A.E.C. Mons, Royal Francs Borains and Charleroi S.C. before joining Standard Liège.
Shandong Taishan F.C. midfielder Marouane Fellaini is a Muslim by birth. Born to Morrocan parents from Tangier and brought up in Brussels, Fellaini had successful spells at Standard Liege and Everton before securing a big money move to Premier League giants Manchester United.
The combative midfielder has had a mixed spell at Old Trafford, but he has managed to win an FA Cup and a Europa League title with the Red Devils, Still only 29, Fellaini still has a good 4-5 years left at the top level.
Used by Jose Mourinho to bully players in the air, Fellaini’s physical presence on the pitch has often broken stubborn defences. The Belgian might not be the most stylish player on the pitch, but there is no doubting his effectiveness for Manchester United.
Born: November 22, 1987 (age 33 years), Etterbeek, Belgium
Height: 1.94 m
Full name: Marouane Fellaini-Bakkioui
Current team: Shandong Luneng Taishan F.C. (#25 / Midfielder)
Parents: Abdellatif Fellaini, Hafida Fellaini
Siblings: Hamza Fellaini, Mansour Fellaini
Zinedine Yazid Zidane, popularly known as Zizou, is a French former professional football player who played as an attacking midfielder.
One of the greatest footballers of all time, Zidane is probably the most famous Muslim footballer to ever play the game. A once in a generation player, Zidane has now made an extremely successful transition to management, even winning the Champions League twice in two years with Real Madrid. The Frenchman is not overtly religious though and does not publicly show or speak much about his personal beliefs.
He is the current manager of La Liga club Real Madrid and is one of the most successful managers in the world.
N'Golo Kanté is a French professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea and the France national team. He is known for his defensive abilities, stamina, dribbling and agility.
N’Golo Kante was already having a rough 2020 long before the outbreak of COVID-19. It seemed he’d lost his mojo in midfield and his fitness was seriously being questioned.
However, Kante’s recent travails only go to show he’s human after all – something we’ve all wanted to find out for some time now. Regardless, he’s still the best defensive/central midfielder in Europe on the books of many.
Born in Paris to middle-class parents, Kante is a professing Moslem and has been on a pilgrimage trip to Mecca.
Born: March 29, 1991 (age 29 years), Paris, France
Height: 1.68 m
Weight: 70 kg
Current teams: Chelsea F.C. (#7 / Midfielder), France national football team (Midfielder)
Dates joined: 2016 (Chelsea F.C., France national football team),
Nationality: French, Malian
Ibrahim Afellay is a Dutch professional footballer who last played for Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven as an attacking midfielder or winger.
He played youth football at Elinkwijk before joining the PSV Eindhoven youth academy at age 10.
Born: April 2, 1986 (age 34 years), Utrecht, Netherlands
Height: 1.8 m
Parents: Habiba Afellay
Current teams: PSV Eindhoven (#17 / Midfielder), Netherlands national football team (Midfielder)
Siblings: Ali Afellay
Nationality: Dutch, Moroccan
Seydou Keïta is a Malian former footballer. A versatile midfielder, he operated as both a central or defensive midfielder.
He most notably played for Lens and Barcelona, winning 14 titles with the latter club after signing in 2008. He started his youth career in Mali and his professional career with Marseille.
Born: January 16, 1980 (age 40 years), Bamako, Mali
Nationality: Malian
Spouse: Zubaida Johnson
Salary: 1 million EUR (2014)
Current teams: El Jaish SC (#24 / Midfielder), Mali national football team (Midfielder)
Children: Mohamed Keita
Sami Khedira is a German professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Serie A club Juventus and the Germany national team.
He began his career at VfB Stuttgart, winning the Bundesliga in 2007, before moving to Real Madrid in 2010.
Born: April 4, 1987 (age 33 years), Stuttgart, Germany
Height: 1.89 m
Current team: Juventus F.C. (#6 / Midfielder)
Salary: 5 million EUR (2011)
Siblings: Rani Khedira, Denny Khedira
Parents: Lazhar Khedira, Doris Khedira
Nuri Şahin is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Süper Lig club Antalyaspor.
He is known for his passing ability.
Born: September 5, 1988 (age 32 years), Lüdenscheid, Germany
Spouse: Tugba Şahin (m. 2007)
Current team: Antalyaspor (#8 / Midfielder)
Salary: 3 million EUR (2013)
Children: Ömer Şahin
Nationality: German, Turkish, West German
Hamit Altıntop is a Turkish former professional footballer who last played for SV Darmstadt 98.
He was a versatile midfielder who can play either in a defending or attacking role and on both flanks, known for his creative flair and long-range shooting ability.
Born: December 8, 1982 (age 37 years), Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Height: 1.83 m
Spouse: Feyza Veli (m. 2014)
Current team: Turkey national football team (Midfielder)
Siblings: Halil Altıntop
Nationality: German, Turkish, West German
Lassana Diarra is a French retired professional footballer.
His predominant position was as a defensive midfielder but he could also play in a more advanced role and has played at right back, which he occasionally has done for the France national football team.
Born: March 10, 1985 (age 35 years), Paris, France
Height: 1.73 m
Salary: 3.5 million EUR (2012)
Number: 24 (Real Madrid C.F. / Midfielder),
Dates joined: January 23, 2018 (Paris Saint-Germain F.C.),
Nationality: French, Malian
Samir Nasri is a French professional footballer who is currently a free agent, having most recently played for Belgian club Anderlecht.
He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and a winger, although he has also been deployed in central midfield.
Born: June 26, 1987 (age 33 years), Marseille, France
Height: 1.75 m
Current team: R.S.C. Anderlecht (#14 / Midfielder)
Salary: 8.4 million GBP (2012)
Dates joined: July 5, 2019 (R.S.C. Anderlecht), 
Zouma is a Muslim and made a pilgrimage to Mecca in 2019.
Born: October 27, 1994 (age 26 years), Lyon, France
Height: 1.9 m
Full name: Kurt Happy Zouma
Nationality: French
Spouse: Sandra Zouma
Current teams: Chelsea F.C. (#15 / Defender), France national football team (Defender)
Sead Kolašinac.
Sead Kolašinac.
Since moving to the Emirates in 2017, Kolasinac has been a mainstay in the Arsenal first team. The 26-year-old plays for Bosnia and Herzegovina – the country of his Muslim parents.
Born: June 20, 1993 (age 27 years), Karlsruhe, Germany
Height: 1.83 m
Weight: 82 kg
Parents: Faik Kolašinac
Current teams: Arsenal F.C. (#31 / Defender), Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team (#5 / Defender)
Nationality: Bosnian, German
Mohamed Elneny
Mohamed Elneny
Elneny began his senior career in the Egyptian Premier League, before moving to Swiss club Basel in January 2013.
Born: July 11, 1992 (age 28 years), El-Mahalla El-Kubra, Egypt
Height: 1.8 m
Nationality: Egyptian
Current teams: Arsenal F.C. (#25 / Midfielder), Egypt national football team (#17 / Midfielder)
Dates joined: August 2019 (Beşiktaş J.K. Football Team), MORE
Children: Fatima Elneny, Malik Mohamed Elneny
Ahmed Musa
Ahmed Musa
Ahmed Musa is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward and left winger for the Nigeria national team. Musa became the first Nigerian to score more than once in a FIFA World Cup match, after scoring twice against Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Born: October 14, 1992 (age 28 years), Maiduguri, Nigeria
Height: 1.7 m
Spouse: Juliet Ejue (m. 2017), Jamila Musa (m. 2013–2017)
Current teams: Nigeria national football team (#7 / Forward), Al-Nassr FC (#7 / Forward)
Children: Halima Musa, Ahmed Musa Junior
Parents: Sarah Moses, Alhaji Musa
Height: 1.7 m
Spouse: Juliet Ejue (m. 2017), Jamila Musa (m. 2013–2017)
Current teams: Nigeria national football team (#7 / Forward), Al-Nassr FC (#7 / Forward)
Children: Halima Musa, Ahmed Musa Junior
Parents: Sarah Moses, Alhaji Musa
Islam Slimani
Islam Slimani
Slimani began his career in his homeland with JSM Chéraga and CR Belouizdad. In 2013, he moved to Europe, signing for Sporting CP.
Born: June 18, 1988 (age 32 years), Algiers, Algeria
Height: 1.88 m
Nationality: Algerian
Weight: 83 kg
Current teams: Leicester City F.C. (#13 / Forward), Algeria national football team (#13 / Forward)
Awards: CAF Africa’s finest XI
Shkodran Mustafi
Shkodran Mustafi
Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi, has spoken of how reading the Qur'an and praying have helped him in his personal and career development.
Mustafi, a German international born to Albanian Muslim parents, told Goal.com how he was born into a religious family and embraced his faith after an encounter with teammates at his first club, Everton.
“It started when I was 17 at Everton and I went out with my team-mates and everyone knew me as the German because I was playing for Germany. 'You’re German, how is it possible that you’re not drinking?'" Mustafi explained.
"I said, 'No, I'm Muslim and I'm not drinking' and he asked me, ‘Why are you Muslim?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, my parents are Muslim and I grew up in a Muslim family'.
"Then I got home and thought that was a good question, because I'd never asked myself. It's something that your parents teach you but you never know whether it's good, bad, why am I not drinking, why am I not eating pork, why do I have to pray five times a day.
"I started to read the Qur’an and asking them questions - 'what is the thinking behind that?' - and it became more and more interesting. It's helped me a lot."
Mustafi played just once for Everton before David Moyes let him leave for Sampdoria, and he also spent two seasons in Spain with Valencia before returning to England with the Gunners in August.
And the 24-year-old, who scored his first international goal at Euro 2016, revealed how his strong system of beliefs has helped him in his career.
He said: "Religion is the same in football; if you’re not believing in what you’re doing, then it's useless because you're going to be bad."
"Ramadan Mubarak, wishing all my Muslim brothers and sisters peace and harmony during the holy month of Ramadan," Mustafi added.🔙🔛🔝 Ramadan Mubarak 🙏🏼 Wishing all my Muslim brothers and sisters peace and harmony during the holy month of Ramadan 🤲🏼🕌 Gëzuar muajin e bekuar të Ramazanit 🤲🏼🕌 #sm20 #alhamdulillah pic.twitter.com/cETc3zSbE3
— Shkodran Mustafi (@MustafiOfficial) May 6, 2019
Born: April 17, 1992 (age 28 years), Bad Hersfeld, Germany
Height: 1.84 m
Spouse: Vjosa Kaba (m. 2016)
Current team: Arsenal F.C. (#20 / Defender)
Salary: 800,000 EUR (2014)
Nationality: Albanian, German
Marouane Fellaini
Marouane Fellaini
Shandong Taishan F.C. midfielder Marouane Fellaini is a Muslim by birth. Born to Morrocan parents from Tangier and brought up in Brussels, Fellaini had successful spells at Standard Liege and Everton before securing a big money move to Premier League giants Manchester United.
The combative midfielder has had a mixed spell at Old Trafford, but he has managed to win an FA Cup and a Europa League title with the Red Devils, Still only 29, Fellaini still has a good 4-5 years left at the top level.
Used by Jose Mourinho to bully players in the air, Fellaini’s physical presence on the pitch has often broken stubborn defences. The Belgian might not be the most stylish player on the pitch, but there is no doubting his effectiveness for Manchester United.
Born: November 22, 1987 (age 33 years), Etterbeek, Belgium
Height: 1.94 m
Full name: Marouane Fellaini-Bakkioui
Current team: Shandong Luneng Taishan F.C. (#25 / Midfielder)
Parents: Abdellatif Fellaini, Hafida Fellaini
Siblings: Hamza Fellaini, Mansour Fellaini
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
One of the greatest footballers of all time, Zidane is probably the most famous Muslim footballer to ever play the game. A once in a generation player, Zidane has now made an extremely successful transition to management, even winning the Champions League twice in two years with Real Madrid. The Frenchman is not overtly religious though and does not publicly show or speak much about his personal beliefs.
He is the current manager of La Liga club Real Madrid and is one of the most successful managers in the world.
The Zidane family are immigrants from the village of Aguemoune in the Berber-speaking region of Kabylie in northern Algeria in 1953 before the start of the Algerian War and are known as “beurs” in French which is a slang term for Arabs. Zidane calls himself a Muslim.
Born: June 23, 1972 (age 48 years), La Castellane
Spouse: Véronique Zidane (m. 1994)
Number: 5 (Real Madrid C.F. / Midfielder), 21 (Juventus F.C. / Midfielder), 7 (FC Girondins de Bordeaux / Midfielder)
Teams coached: Real Madrid C.F. (Association football manager, since 2019),
Children: Enzo Fernández, Luca Zidane, Theo Zidane, Elyaz Zidane Fernández
N'Golo Kanté
N'Golo Kanté
N’Golo Kante was already having a rough 2020 long before the outbreak of COVID-19. It seemed he’d lost his mojo in midfield and his fitness was seriously being questioned.
However, Kante’s recent travails only go to show he’s human after all – something we’ve all wanted to find out for some time now. Regardless, he’s still the best defensive/central midfielder in Europe on the books of many.
Born in Paris to middle-class parents, Kante is a professing Moslem and has been on a pilgrimage trip to Mecca.
Born: March 29, 1991 (age 29 years), Paris, France
Height: 1.68 m
Weight: 70 kg
Current teams: Chelsea F.C. (#7 / Midfielder), France national football team (Midfielder)
Dates joined: 2016 (Chelsea F.C., France national football team),
Nationality: French, Malian
Ibrahim Afellay
Ibrahim Afellay
He played youth football at Elinkwijk before joining the PSV Eindhoven youth academy at age 10.
Height: 1.8 m
Parents: Habiba Afellay
Current teams: PSV Eindhoven (#17 / Midfielder), Netherlands national football team (Midfielder)
Siblings: Ali Afellay
Nationality: Dutch, Moroccan
Seydou Keita
Seydou Keita
He most notably played for Lens and Barcelona, winning 14 titles with the latter club after signing in 2008. He started his youth career in Mali and his professional career with Marseille.
Nationality: Malian
Spouse: Zubaida Johnson
Salary: 1 million EUR (2014)
Current teams: El Jaish SC (#24 / Midfielder), Mali national football team (Midfielder)
Children: Mohamed Keita
Sami Khedira
Sami Khedira
He began his career at VfB Stuttgart, winning the Bundesliga in 2007, before moving to Real Madrid in 2010.
Born: April 4, 1987 (age 33 years), Stuttgart, Germany
Height: 1.89 m
Current team: Juventus F.C. (#6 / Midfielder)
Salary: 5 million EUR (2011)
Siblings: Rani Khedira, Denny Khedira
Parents: Lazhar Khedira, Doris Khedira
Nuri Şahin
Nuri Şahin
These're photos of the Turkish football player, Nuri Sahin, who playing to Real Madrid now, while picking up a piece of bread he found on the playground, he kissed it, put it on his head then removed it outside the playground so that no other player could step on it as an indication of his commitment to his religion.
Born: September 5, 1988 (age 32 years), Lüdenscheid, Germany
Spouse: Tugba Şahin (m. 2007)
Current team: Antalyaspor (#8 / Midfielder)
Salary: 3 million EUR (2013)
Children: Ömer Şahin
Nationality: German, Turkish, West German
Hamit Altıntop
Hamit Altıntop
Born: December 8, 1982 (age 37 years), Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Height: 1.83 m
Spouse: Feyza Veli (m. 2014)
Current team: Turkey national football team (Midfielder)
Siblings: Halil Altıntop
Nationality: German, Turkish, West German
Lassana Diarra
Lassana Diarra
Born: March 10, 1985 (age 35 years), Paris, France
Height: 1.73 m
Salary: 3.5 million EUR (2012)
Number: 24 (Real Madrid C.F. / Midfielder),
Dates joined: January 23, 2018 (Paris Saint-Germain F.C.),
Nationality: French, Malian
Samir Nasri
Samir Nasri
Born: June 26, 1987 (age 33 years), Marseille, France
Height: 1.75 m
Current team: R.S.C. Anderlecht (#14 / Midfielder)
Salary: 8.4 million GBP (2012)
Dates joined: July 5, 2019 (R.S.C. Anderlecht),
Nationality: Algerian, French
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They are muslims
ReplyDeleteMuslim RB(right back) name please
ReplyDeleteAchraf hak8mi
DeleteSurprised by some of the names, may the Almighty Allah bless them.
ReplyDeleteAm happy for thirty Henry and hazard to be Muslims and the rest Allah bless them
DeleteThanks to Allah
ReplyDelete