Football is one of the most popular sports in the world. Players from all over the globe represent various clubs with their talent and skills. Many Muslim footballers are conquering the world with their hard work, skills, and abilities. Here are the top ten Muslim football players –
List of the Best Muslim Football Players in The World
Mesut Ozil
The midfield player is a well-known German footballer. He began his professional career at Schalke 04, his hometown club. He was a part of Real Madrid’s La Liga winning team.
He represented Germany in Men’s International Football at the age of 20. He won the German Player of the Year award. In the Premier League, he was one of the most famous Muslim players. On the field, he frequently prays to Allah and recites the Quran before each match. Once, an opponent tossed a piece of bread at him. However, he picked it up and kissed it. He showed respect for the faith.
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Mohamad Salah Ghaly
He was born on June 15, 1992. He represented Egypt at the international level as well as Liverpool in the Premier League. He won the English Premier League Player of the Year award in 2017. Additionally, the Golden Boot award in 2018 for scoring the most goals throughout the season.
He always wears a Sujud and performs Islamic rites of prostration to celebrate his victory. In popular Liverpool tunes, there are Salah’s religious beliefs.
Karim Benzema
This French footballer was born on December 19, 1987. He plays forward for the France national team and the Spanish club Real Madrid. He is a famous striker.
He helped his team win several matches. He overcame many challenges in his life. Then he came to popularity after winning 13 titles for his group. He signed from Lyon to Real Madrid in July 2009. He appears in different commercials. He got fame as an ambassador for video games within the United States. He is a dedicated devout Muslim who prays before each game and fasts during Ramadan.
Emmanuel Adebayor
A fantastic player from Togo was born on February 26, 1984. He achieved great success through his incomparable hard work. He earned a position in European clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, Arsenal, and others.
Then he left these teams and joined the Turkish club Istanbul Başakşehir as a striker. He was not born a Muslim. However, he converted to Islam in 2015. He was a devout Christian before joining Islam.
Eric Abidal
A French footballer, born on September 11, 1979. He was a Christian at first. But in 2007, he embraced Islam in order to wed a Muslim lady of Algerian.
He was diagnosed with cancer in 2011. But after beating it, he returned to the group. After that, he won more club trophies. He played for Barcelona as a central and left-back defender.
Nicolas Anelka
Nicolas Anelka was born on March 14, 1979. He was a forward for the French national team. Later on. He is well-known among his teammates for his ability. His skillful technique assists him in scoring as a central striker.
He then became Muslim and took a Muslim name at the age of 16. There are some other Muslim players who have been playing for many years.
Marouane Fellaini-Bakkioui
He was born to a Moroccan Muslim family on November 22, 1987. Fellaini is a Belgian footballer who now plays for Manchester United. He is one of the best Manchester United midfielders in the league.
He is famous for his unique hairdo. However, his outstanding performance makes him a standout midfielder.
Paul Pogba
Paul Labile Pogba is a professional footballer from France. He was born on March 15, 1993. He was a prominent member of France’s Cup Final team in 2018.
During an interview with The New York Times’ LifeTimes podcast, he said that his mother practiced Islam. That assists him in being a “better person.” He is also a devout Muslim who lives his entire life as such.
The Bottom Line
To sum up, Muslims are playing a significant role in world history. A number of world-class Muslim footballers amaze their fans throughout their careers and performances. Furthermore, they weren’t all Muslim football players from the beginning. But several of them converted to Islam at some point in their life.