A different first 11: Muslim footballers on the fields
Translator: Fatıma Nur Dinçer
Football is a sport that has millions of followers all over the world and has become a lifestyle today. In this world where 22 people are running on the field and millions are watching and cheering, there are many Muslim athletes that we can call one of us. So, we have decided to make a top 11 list, consisting of these Muslim football players, some of which you may know, and some of which you are about to find out.
Samir Handanovic
Born on 14 July 1984 in Ljubljana (Slovenia), Handanovic is a Slovenian of Bosnian descent. Known to be a Muslim, the goalkeeper has been playing for FC Internazionale Milano (Inter), one of the strongest teams in the football world, since 2012.
Shkodran Mustafi
Born on April 17, 1992, in Bad Hersfeld (Germany), Mustafi is German of Albanian descent. The football player, who transferred from Valencia, where he played for 2 years, to Arsenal in 2016 and played as a defender, still plays in the English Premier League, which is the most-watched and highest-income league in the world.
Medhi Benatia
Born on April 17, 1987, in Courcouronnes (France), Benatia is of Moroccan descent and a former player of the Moroccan national team. As a defender who played in established teams such as AS Roma, Bayern Munich, and Juventus, he was transferred to Al-Duhail, one of the Qatar Stars League teams, for 8M Euros last year and continues to pursue his career here.
Kurt Zouma
Born on October 27, 1997, in Lyon (France), Zouma is a Frenchman of Central African Republic descent. Zouma, who also plays for the French national team, has been playing as a defender in Chelsea, one of the most ambitious teams in the Premier League, since 2014.
Mamadou Sakho
Born on April 13, 1990, in Paris, M. Sakho is a French national team player of Senegalese origin. The player, whose main position is defense, also runs the ball on the left wing. Transferred from Liverpool to Crystal Palace in 2017, Sakho continues to play for this team.
Paul Pogba
Born on March 15, 1993, in Lagny-sur-Marne (France), Pogba is a French national team player. Pogba, whose main position is as a central midfielder, also plays as a front libero. The star player, who transferred to Manchester United in 2016 with a recorded testimonial, continues to play in the same club.
Nabil Fekir
Born on July 18, 1993, in Lyon, the player is French of Algerian descent. Playing in midfield, Fekir has been playing for the Spanish team Real Betis since last year.
Eden Hazard
Born on January 7, 1991, in La Louviere (Belgium), Hazard is a Belgium national team player. Hazard, who plays in the left-wing position, transferred to Real Madrid from Chelsea, where he had played for many years, last year and is still a player of Real Madrid.
Mohamed Salah
Born on June 15, 1992, in Basyoun (Egypt), Salah is an Egyptian national team player. The footballer, who plays on the right wing, can also play on the left-wing and behind the striker position. He is currently playing for Liverpool and is in preparation to win the Premier League title this season.
Edin Dzeko
Edin Dzeko, born in Sarajevo on March 17, 1986, is a Bosnia and Herzegovina national team player. The player, who has accomplished brilliant works in long-established clubs such as Manchester City and AS Roma for many years, still plays in Rome.
Karim Benzema
Born on December 19, 1987, in Lyon, Benzema is a former French national team player of Algerian descent. (He is not included in the squad due to problems he has been through) Benzema, who plays in the center-forward position, continues to play in Real Madrid, one of the top football clubs in the world for 11 years.
