Rabat – As the start date of the much-anticipated 2022 World Cup approaches, footballers from the 32 participating national teams are gearing up to display remarkable performances at the global tournament.
The world’s biggest Muslim football stars will be representing their countries’ national teams in this year’s edition. Here are some of the Muslim stars to watch during the competition.
France
France’s official World Cup squad list features a wide range of renowned players, including Muslim footballers who have reached the world’s biggest leagues.
Karim Benzema
These include Karim Benzema, a French professional footballer born to Algerian parents. Benzema won the 2022 Ballon d’Or following a remarkable season with both Real Madrid and France.
Ousmane Dembele
France’s national team also includes Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele, who has been married to a Moroccan woman since December 2019. He earned the nickname “Mosquito” due to his remarkable speed on the pitch.
Youssouf Fofana
Born to Malian parents, Youssef Fofana is a French professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for French club AS Monaco and France’s national team.
Ibrahima Konate
Ibrahima Konate plays as a center-back for the English club Liverpool FC and France’s national team. Happy with his inclusion among his country’s official squad list, Konate said on Instagram: “What a pride and what an honor to be able to represent France for the biggest competition. This is a childhood dream come true.”
Senegal
Since Senegal is a Muslim-majority country, the Lions of Teranga World Cup squad includes some of the top Muslim footballers.
Sadio Mane
Senegalese professional footballer Sadio Mane is considered one of the best players in the world and the African continent. He plays as a forward for German club Bayern Munich and Senegal’s national team, which he is set to represent in Qatar.
In addition to the remarkable skills he displays on the pitch, Mane has won the hearts of football fans due to his charity work, as he has made huge donations to help disadvantaged communities in Senegal.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Kalidou Koulibaly plays as a center-back for the English club Chelsea and captains the Senegalese national team. Excited for the fast-approaching global event, the 31-year-old player said that he hopes the team will avoid the mistakes they made in the 2018 World Cup.
Idrissa Gueye
Muslim player Idrissa Gueye is also set to take part in the Qatar World Cup, representing Senegal’s national team. Gueye plays as a midfielder for the English club Everton FC.
Cheikhou Kouyate
Senegalese player Cheikhou Kouyate plays as a midfielder for the English club Nottingham Forest and Senegal’s national team. The 32-year-old is a devout Muslim and performed Umrah (pilgrimage to Mecca) in 2019 alongside Gueye.
Spain
Ansu Fati
The Guinea-Bissau-born Ansu Fati has distinguished himself as a talented and skilled player at a young age. The 20-year-old plays as a forward for FC Barcelona and is said to be Lionel Messi’s heir at the club. Fati became the club’s player with the most number of goals before the age of 19, surpassing Messi.
Germany
Germany’s squad list for the global tournament also includes several Muslim players.
Antonio Rudiger
29-year-old German Antonio Rudiger plays as a center-back for the Spanish club Real Madrid and Germany’s national team.
Ilkay Gundogan
Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is a key member of the Bavarian national team. Gundogan’s former coach at German club Borussia Dortmund, Jurgen Klopp, described him as an “intelligent and complete midfielder with numerous strengths.”
Leroy Sane
Leroy Sane plays as a winger for German club Bayern Munich and the German national team. Similar to his teammates, Sane is excited to represent his country in Qatar. “Let’s start our World Cup journey,” he said on Instagram.
Karim Adeyemi
German footballer Karim Adeyemi will also feature in the upcoming global event. The 20-year-old plays as a forward for the German club Borussia Dortmund.
Belgium
Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard plays as a winger for Spanish club Real Madrid and is the captain of Belgium’s national team. Given Hazard’s long-standing professional career, hopes are high for the player to successfully lead the Belgian team in the Qatar World Cup.
In 2018, Hazard ranked as the best dribbler in Europe’s top five leagues, ahead of Paris Saint-Germain stars Neymar and Lionel Messi, according to the CIES Football Observatory.
The United States
Yunus Musah
Valencia CF midfielder Yunus Musah is a key player on the US national team. Born in the United States to Ghanaian parents, the 19-year-old player’s World Cup dream is finally coming true, as he dreamed of taking part in the global tournament since he joined the US’ national team at the age of 17.
US head coach Gregg Berhalter highlighted the Muslim player’s remarkable skills. “Yunus is a guy that just blows me away, at his age, what he can do … Craaazy [sic] level of talent,” Berhalter said.
Australia
Aziz Behich
Aziz Behich, who is of Turkish Cypriot origin, plays as a left back for Scottish club Dundee United and the Australian national team.
Happy with his inclusion in Australia’s World Cup Squad, Behich is keen to make his country proud. “Honoured to be selected to represent my country at another World Cup! Bring on Qatar 2022,” Behich said on Instagram.
Switzerland
Switzerland’s World Cup squad also features prominent Muslim players.
Granit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka is a Swiss footballer who plays as a midfielder for the London-based club Arsenal FC. The 30-year-old, who also captains his national team, is “excited for what [the] team can achieve on the pitch” at the world cup, he said on Instagram.
Haris Seferovic
Born to Bosnian parents, Swiss footballer Haris Seferovic plays as a striker for Turkish club Galatasaray and is set to represent his country in the upcoming World Cup. Seferovic describes himself as a non-practicing Muslim, but said: “I am a believer … and that gives me strength.”
Xherdan Shaqiri
Swiss footballer Xherdan Shaqiri was born in Yugoslavia to Kosovar Albanian parents. He plays as a winger for the American club Chicago Fire and Switzerland’s national team.
Ghana
Thomas Partey
Ghanaian footballer and Arsenal star Thomas Partey has featured among Ghana’s official World Cup squad list. Partey converted to Islam earlier this year and indicated that his Moroccan girlfriend Sara Bella was behind his conversion.
“It is time to prepare for the World Cup and we will continue to work hard to defend the good name of Ghana on the world stage,” Partey said on Instagram.
