Read Also:Why Did Egypt Goalkeeper Refuse Man of the Match Award? The number of Muslim football players is growing in many European leagues. Born in Yugoslavia from Albanian origin, the Muslim footballer plays as a midfielder for Liverpool in the Premier League. He is also a Muslim born to Milan parents who migrated from Mali to France in 1980. Greatest swimmer of all time: A ranked list of the best swimmers ever. 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Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is another Real Madrid star who practices Islam. The message is pretty clear: we are here, we are Swiss, we are proud to play for Switzerland, but do not ask us to abandon our culture. But it can leave the Swiss lacking imagination when faced with a stubborn backline. Born in Switzerland, Sow is of Senegalese and Swiss descent. Granit Xhaka has always been a dependable force for Switzerland but his club form has been transformed this season, with the midfielder a powerful force in Arsenal's Premier League-chasing squad. Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor is a professional striker for the Togolese Championnat National club Semassi. He is a French football manager who converted from an atheist to Islam in 2004, taking the Muslim name, Abdul-Salam Bilal. He represented the Switzerland 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 practising Muslim who married a Moroccan wife in a traditional ceremony in 2019. In 2011, Ilkay Gndoan was acquired by Borussia Dortmund, winning double Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal in his first season. While the wealthiest footballer in the world hasn't earned a billion U.S. dollars yet, there are many successful men whose earnings truly impress. as-salam `a My Mother Hates My Wife Chadli has played for both Morocco and Belgium national sides, with one cap and 64 caps, respectively. A full international since 2013, the 187-cm striker represented Switzerland at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016 and 2018 FIFA World Cup, earning over 70 caps. German report warns of Islamophobia and racism's threat to democracy, Report urges policymakers to unleash the potential of British Muslim civil society, New iconic Birmingham masjid hoping to build a prophetic community, Video: Former UFC fighter converts to Islam "Allah always has a plan", last month celebrated the first FA Cup win in the club's history. The Manchester United star made a world record transfer from Juventus and though he initially struggled to make an impact, he soon started showing his quality and became an integral part of Manchester United's Europa League triumph. 76. He is currently working as Barca's sporting director. Because of this, the listicle below features players some might have never known are from the Islamic religion. Here's the list of Muslim players in the Switzerland team for the World Cup in Russia. 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. He is of Moroccan heritage and a practising Muslim. In 2008, he began playing for the club's reserve side before joining 1.FC Nrnberg the following season. "Assisting clubs to . It's the same story in attack, where Embolo and Haris Seferovic are crucial for providing the goals. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! They are all immigrants or the children of immigrants to Switzerland, where voters in February backed strict new quotas on immigration. Mo was awarded the 2017/2018 English Premier League Player of the Year and the Golden Boot (awarded to the highest goal scorer in a season). They are all immigrants or the children of immigrants to Switzerland, where voters in February backed strict new quotas on immigration. Born: October 8, 1989 (age 31 years), Chtenay-Malabry, FranceWeight: 82 kgSpouse: Louise TraoreNumber: 32 (Cardiff City F.C. [72] They advanced to the round of sixteen with a 3-0 win over Honduras, with a hat-trick from Xherdan Shaqiri. Mahrez is a multi-talented player with great left foot power. The immigrants were blamed for everything from rising crime, to drug dealing, to speeding offences, and falling educational standards. The 2022 Ballon dOr winner is often regarded as a complete player and one of the best strikers of all time. He converted from Christianity to Islam in 2015, and a video of him taking Shahada or declaration of faith, went viral. The Swiss squad in France features many players from an immigrant background, with players of Albanian, Kosovo, Macedonian, Bosnian Croat, Cape Verdean, and Ivorian roots. Still, he departed after a solitary season to join the Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg in 2012 for 4 million. they're Muslim still Muslim. Karim Benzema, Mohammed Salah and Zinedine Zidane (left to right). Another not so well known fact is that Anelka even adopted the Muslim name Abdul-Salam Bilal in 1994. Ozil is of Turkish descent a country where 63.8% of the population is Muslim. On 9 November that year, he scored his first career goal against the Laval reserves. Zinedine Zidane is regarded as one of the most popular Muslim footballers of all time, thanks to his prowess in the game. The Islamic observance of Ramadan, affects the ability of players to train and play, while some players have refused to wear football shirts sponsored by gambling and finance . Among the countrys total population of eight million, almost two million are not Swiss. This will be their 11th appearance in the World Cup having made 10 in previous years. Read Also:The Six Muslim Hosts of FIFA World Cup 2018. He is a Muslim but celebrates Christmas, which is a mainly Christian celebration. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. While Christianity is the predominant religion in Western Europe, there are more Muslim football players in Europes top leagues than some might suspect indeed there are far more Muslim football players who are public about their faith than agnostics, atheists or secular humanists. Karim Mostafa Benzema is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker and captains the La Liga club Real Madrid and the French national team. He made his debut on 7 October 2020 in a friendly against Croatia. Seferovic played his debut international match in February 2013 between Greece and Switzerland. Despite crashing out of the World Cup on Tuesday, Switzerland's national football team is currently ranked sixth in the world. When playing for Liverpool, he forms a great team with Mane on the flanks. There have been numerous cases of anti-Muslim abuse aimed at Muslim footballers. He was born in September 1992 in Basel to Kosovo Albanian parents. Born: January 18, 1987 (age 33 years), Abidjan, Cte dIvoire, Born: August 17, 1977 (age 43 years), Les Ulis, France. Oops! He is a French centre-back for the Premier League team West Ham and the France National team. Mohamed Salah and Sadio mane are prolific strikers both were the joint top scorers in the league. Read Also: Euro 2020: Organizers Make Sponsors Exception for Muslim Players. He has practised Islam since he was born into a Muslim-faith family originally from Turkey, where most people are Muslims. Advertise on TMV. Halil Altintopin and Franck Ribery During Umrah in Makkah Saudi Arabia. medals in sport their heroes but children of migrants who were born in this country but do harmful things even outside terrorists. He plays as a left back and has been described as a "sprightly left-back with good speed and stamina". He signed on with AAS Sarcelles as a young footballer to start his professional career. Zidane is known to be a Muslim though he doesn't show his religious beliefs publicly or speak much about them. Islamic Dream Interpretation, Islamic Dream Interpretation: Seeing a House in a Dream, - (:) Holy Prophet Muhammads (saw) Biography (Bangla & English), To urinate in your dream - Islamic dream interpretation. Haris Seferovic Knocking Out World Champion, Meet Swiss Muslim Players - About Islam The Portuguese club Benfica striker, born in February 1992, started his football career 22 years ago at the age of 7. What are the differences between Hanafi, Shafi, Hanbali and Maliki in Islam; Should we care? Two years later, he moved to Grasshopper. Zidane calls himself a Muslim. Switzerland's Muslim football heroes Players such as Xherdan Shaqiri and his team mates Valon Behrami, Granit Xhaka, Haris Seferovic and Admir Mehmedi are all Muslims from a Balkan background. #RamadanKareem pic.twitter.com/LfhQzXVk4g. Read Also: Worlds Most Expensive Player Opens Heart on Islam. Below is a breakdown of the top 10 players taking part. The Swiss are often touted as underdogs going into major tournaments, owing to a perceived lack of star names but make no mistake, this is a serious tournament team that has spent years together building a strong chemistry. / Defender), 83 (Benevento Calcio / Defender)Children: Elias Sagna, Kais SagnaMovies: N.O.L.A Circus. (Switzerland, Netherlands), Muslim players dot the football landscape and should figure prominently into which team claims the sport's most coveted trophy at the sport's brightest showcase . Playing for Switzerland at the UEFA European U-21 Championship 2011, the Muslim forward player made his first international debut in that same year. 1. Mo Salah always celebrates his goals by performing the Sujud, which is the Islamic act of prostration. Im a Kosovar Albanian, was his answer, firmly identifying himself with a group which he knows very well has been demonised by some sections of Swiss society. Also, he is known to be a devoted Muslim from birth. He has made his senior debut against Scotland on 29 February 2012. Young Boys midfielder Fabian Rieder, 20, is called up for the first time, and Sturm Graz defender Gregory Wuthrich is in contention for the first time after being placed on a 13-man standby list. Benzema is a devoted Muslim who prays before every match and follows all the fasting rules during Ramadan. World Bulletin / News Desk Despite crashing out of the World Cup on Tuesday, Switzerland's national football team is currently ranked sixth in the world. Egypt boasts several European league players including Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny -- a devout Muslim who fasts and prays five times a day-- and promising winger Mahmoud Hassan. Playing for Switzerland at the UEFA European U-21 Championship 2011, the Muslim forward player made his first international debut in that same year. He went on to post Instagram pictures and videos of his pilgrimage trip to Mecca. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". These skilled individuals are a part of national teams and clubs in countries across the world. Djibril Sow Knocking Out World Champion, Meet Swiss Muslim Players - About Islam Mohameth Djibril Ibrahima Sow (born 6 February 1997) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt and the Switzerland national team. Lost his place from Germany's National team for appreciating Erdogan. As a rising star on the Swiss football scene, Xherdan Shaqiri was asked about his origins. "I don't think we need to do anything as the Swiss team. Accordingto the official tournament rules, "a player listed on the final list may only be replaced in the event of serious injury or illness up until 24 hours before the start of his team's first match.". Real Madrid once took the cross on the crown on its logo off to avoid the appearance of promoting Christianity over Islam, in part to finalize a $1 billion deal with a tourist resort in the United Arab Emirates. What are the differences between Hanafi, Shafi, Hanbali and Maliki in Islam; Should we care? Emmanuel Adebayor built a great football career in a few top European clubs, including Arsenal, Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur. Born: September 15, 1987 (age 33 years), Blois, France, Born: December 5, 1988 (age 31 years), Batajnica, Belgrade, Serbia, Born: July 14, 1984 (age 36 years), Rotterdam, Netherlands, Born: August 16, 1988 (age 32 years), Utrecht, Netherlands, Born: October 27, 1992 (age 28 years), Savona, Italy. Football is one of the most captivating sports in the world and includes players from all nationalities, races, and religions. He is also a Muslim born to Milan parents who migrated from Mali to France in 1980. The German footballer recites from the Quran before his match. He is of the Islam faith from a Baklan background alongside most of his Arsenal teammates. Karim Benzema is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for the Spanish club Real Madrid and the France national team. Shaqiri would once have had the magic to unlock a game, but at 31 his powers are fading. Yes, there are numerous football players who practice Islam. In July 2013, BBC journalist Rob Cowling remarked that Muslim players were changing the culture of English football. After playing 157 matches and scoring 15 goals for the club, Ilkay signed for Machester City for an estimated transfer fee of 21 million in the summer of 2016. THANKFUL Mesut Ozil kisses bread thrown at him by Atletico Madrid fans during Europa League clash. Xhaka is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a midfielder and captains the Premier League team Arsenal and captains the Switzerland national team. Who are the top footballers who practice Islam? Even though many Swiss publicly expressed shame at such open prejudice, the support the party by voting in favour for them. In September 2020, he had called up to the Switzerland squad for UEFA Nations League fixtures against Ukraine and Germany. The immigrants were blamed for everything from rising crime, to drug dealing, to speeding offences, and falling educational standards. He is famous not only for his performance, which makes him a remarkable midfielder but also for his extraordinary hairdo. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. / Defender), 3 (Manchester City F.C. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. An inspiration for us to excel in Dunya wal Akhirah. He was born in September 1992 in Basel to Kosovo Albanian parents. N.C. State Player Scores Ridiculous Bicycle Kick. Why Did Egypt Goalkeeper Refuse Man of the Match Award? Monaco's Breel Embolo will be the go-to man in attack and a strong start to the Ligue 1 season suggests he'll be ready for Qatar. Clothed in a white Jellabiya, Adebayor in declaration of his new faith said; Wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah (..and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah). The defender was born a Catholic but moved to Islam in his 20s and changed his name to Bilal Eric Abidal. His defensive skills are unmatched by most top-league defenders. 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. Mohammed Salah Ghaly is an Egyptian professional football player who plays as a forward for the English club Liverpool and the Egyptian national team. READ ALSO: Wayne Rooney vs Sergio Aguero: Who was the better striker in their prime? This is by no means an exhaustive list of Muslim football players, merely a reminder of the diversity within the beautiful game. Masour Ousmane Dembele is a French professional footballer who plays as a winger for La Liga club Barcelona and the France national team. (Stats correct as of start of Qatar 2022), What Switzerland and our National Team are all about @fifaworldcup #squad #aufgebot #slection #convocazione#natimiteuch #lanatiavecvous #lanaticonvoi pic.twitter.com/mIyjUcHxjz. World Bulletin / News From Turkey and Islamic World - Copyright 2023, PRIVACY AND PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY, Libya finds new mass grave south of Tripoli, France withdraws last troop from Central African Republic, Former Tunisian Prime Minister Laarayedh imprisoned: Ennahda, Strategy to boost economic growth direly needed: Muslim bloc chief, Abdurresid Ibrahim to be remembered for spreading Islam in Japan. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Born of Kosovan-Albanian heritage, Granit Xhaka was born and raised in Basel, Switzerland.Xhaka plays his club football for Arsenal andhas 94 caps and 12 goals for his country.. He is a generous man who uses a great amount of his salary for donations and projects. Can's name is also among the Muslim footballers' list, Thierry Henry (famous football players who converted to Islam). Elneny began his senior career in the Egyptian Premier League before moving to Swiss club Basel in January 2013. Switzerland World Cup squad 2022: Final list of 26 players for national team in Qatar | Sporting News CHE FUL Thu, 12:00p +115 LU AV Fri, 12:00p -105 MCI MUN Sat, 4:30a -135 LIV BHA Sat,. Also, he is a Muslim and is occasionally seen reciting the Quran before his matches. Granit Xhaka is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Arsenal. However, new faces have stepped up to lead, and the Swiss will once again be a stubborn, well-drilled side. It read simply Kosovo-Albaner Nein, or Kosovar Albanians No. Marouane Fellaini-Bakkioui is a Belgian professional football player who plays midfielder for Manchester United and the Belgian national team. In 2007, Abidal converted from Christianity to Islam. Additionally, some Muslim football players have refused to wear jerseys sponsored by gambling companies. 13 players are called up on stand-by - including one big surprise: Sturm Graz centre-back Gregory Wthrich (27), who is listed for the 1st time ever! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Salah of course was the top scorer for two . Many of these Muslim stars are household names who play for some of Europes top sides, who will each be representing their country at the highest level. Of Turkish descent, Mesut Ozil is an attacking midfield player that players for Arsenal. He earned his first appearance for the Switzerland national team on 8 September 2018, coming on as a substitute for Steven Zuber in a 60 win against Iceland in the UEFA Nations League.In May 2019, he played in 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals, where his team finished fourth. #RamadanMubarak to all my Muslim brothers & sisters! Switzerland's old national stereotype of being well-drilled and efficient has traditionally translated onto the pitch. Top 15 tallest athletes in the world at the moment, United earn Ten Hag's trust after hot streak. 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. The best Muslim football players have repeatedly proven to be the best in the game. Nations haduntil Friday, October 21to submit an official preliminary list of 35-55 players to FIFA, from which they were required to select afinal 26-man roster for Qatar by Monday, November 14. Surprised by some of the names, may the Almighty Allah bless them. Despite crashing out of the World Cup on Tuesday, Switzerlands national football team is currently ranked sixth in the world. Islamophobes, take note, here are eight Muslim players who made it to the semi-finals of this year's World Cup: 1. When Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka and Valon Behrami were growing up in Switzerland, a poster from the right-wing Swiss People's Party appeared supporting a campaign against public funding for integration centres for immigrants from Kosovo. Besides the fact that all of these players are very successful of the field, they have another thing in common and that is that they are Muslim in a country which very recently voted to ban minarets. He is also a Muslim born to Milan parents who migrated from Mali to France in 1980. Football is the worlds game, the beautiful game. More recently, last December, he was asked how he celebrated Christmas. Spending the majority of his youth career at FC Winthertu, the Albanian Mehmedi played his first international match between England and Switzerland in June 2014. So we dont celebrate it so much, but my little sister loves to have a Christmas tree, so we always get one of those., Granit Xhaka meanwhile told a Swiss newspaper: We play for Switzerland and we are proud to give our all., Asked though what music he would be listening to on the bus to the first World Cup match, he answered: Albanian songs.. Born: August 18, 1980 (age 40 years), Dubrovnik, Croatia. Many Muslim football players face anti-Muslim abuse from fans and sometimes even other players or coaches. All Rights Reserved islammessage.org Powered by HDBC, The Power of Prayer: 10 Benefits of Salah in Islam. Born: August 16, 1989 (age 31 years), Le Blanc-Mesnil, France. Barazite can play either as an attacking midfielder or striker. 1 dakika nce. / Midfielder), 7 (FC Girondins de Bordeaux / Midfielder)Teams coached: Real Madrid C.F. Not many Swiss were able to get use to the diversity their country was attaining which lead them to be unwelcoming to the immigrants. Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor is a professional striker for the Togolese Championnat National club Semassi. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 1. Real Sociedad striker, born in February 1992, started his football career at the age of 7. There are more than 40 listed below, no one knows the English Premier League's players better than us! A Brentford spokesman told BBC Sport: "Muslims are the second largest faith community in the UK and the fastest growing, with around 70 Muslim players at Premier League clubs. Here'sthe final 26-man list. NGolo Kante plays for the EPL team Chelsea and France national team. He converted to Islam and said it had made him a better person. READ ALSO: Top 20 richest footballers in the world in 2022 and their net worth. Number: 14 (Arsenal F.C. Born: May 11, 1986 (age 34 years), Aubervilliers, France. All of the players have a citizenship Swiss citizenship and have lived all of nearly all of their lives in Switzerland. The number of Muslim football players in the Premier League has increased dramatically since the leagues inception in 1992. took the cross on the crown on its logo off, N.C. State Player Scores Ridiculous Bicycle Kick, Concacaf champion Seattle Sounders are on the path to face Real Madrid at the Club World Cup, Bizarre scenes: Mitrovi PK disallowed after striker manages the impossible, Chelsea announce $110M Mykhailo Mudryk signing mid-game, USWNT premiere on HBO Max is a slow-burn that ends like the "Red Wedding". It does not store any personal data. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. One of the greatest African players was born on 26 February 1984 in Togo. Can is of Turkish descentand a practising Muslim,according to reports., Gndoan has had a stellar season with his club Manchester City, winning a league title and reaching a Champions League final and being nominated for Player of the Year. They are all immigrants or the children of immigrants to Switzerland, where voters in February backed strict new quotas on immigration. [71] At the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Switzerland were drawn to play France, Honduras and Ecuador in the group stage. This isnt to say religious beliefs dont affect ones life. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Karim Benzema is another football star who practises Islam. Antonio Rudiger plays as a centre-back for La Liga club Real Madrid and the Germany national team. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". His prowess in the game can be seen in his ability to switch positions from the central mid-field position to the left winger, attacking midfielder, defensive mid-fielder and deep-laying playmaker. Arsenal's midfielder, Granit Xhaka, is one of the most prominent players in the Swiss team and certainly one of the most experienced. Italy's road to the #WorldCup will continue with the play-offs#WCQ pic.twitter.com/oIsRytE33r, More: Switzerland's Group G opponents at Qatar 2022. He was included in their squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016. He converted from Christianity to Islam in 2015, and a video of him taking Shahada or declaration of faith, went viral. SOURCE: http://www.worldbulletin.net/haber/139883/switzerlands-muslim-football-heroes, Categories: Europe, Switzerland, The Muslim Times, Tagged as: immigrants, migrants, Swiss Muslims. He is one of the most skilled Muslim Premier League players today. Mehmedi, 183-cm, has a history of 22 international caps and two international goals. A ranked list of 10 of the best-selling soccer jerseys in the world, Top 20 hottest female footballers in the world right now, Revealed! The Swiss brought a veteran team into the last World Cup and are making the trip to Qatar without a few familiar stalwarts like now retired Stephan Lichtsteiner and Valon Behrami. SOURCE: http://www.worldbulletin.net/haber/139883/switzerlands-muslim-football-heroes, Categories: Europe, Switzerland, The Muslim Times, Tagged as: immigrants, migrants, Swiss Muslims. During his club career, he represented teams in his homeland, Croatia, Russia, France, Spain and Germany. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Exciting feature: Check out news exactly for YOU find "Recommended for you" block and enjoy! Congrats to him on the birth of his new baby. There are numerous Muslim football players in today's sporting industry. Follow Sports Brief on Twitter for more trending and breaking news! Since his breakthrough into Basels first team, the left-footed midfielder has drawn widespread praise for his speed, both on and off the ball. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.