Best Young Muslim Footballers

As the world’s second largest religion, it should come as no surprise that Islam and Muslim athletes can be found at all stages within the sporting world. From the NBA to the UFC to the NFL and the boxing ring, Muslim athletes are well-represented and respected on the national stage.

And with football, or American soccer, being the world’s most popular sport, it should also come as no surprise that Muslim athletes are well-represented on the international stage.

And while there have been a number of popular, older Muslim footballers, there are also a number of younger Muslim footballers who have made it to the world stage.

Below, we are going to review and discuss the best young Muslim footballers and how their faith and football excellence have helped them succeed.

What is Islam?

Before jumping into the best young Muslim footballers, it is important to understand what a Muslim is and what Islam is.

Islam is a monotheistic religion which is centered around the Quran, or the Muslim holy book, which is considered by Muslims to be the verbatim word of God.

As the world’s second-largest religion with over 2-billion followers, Muslims believe in a merciful, all-powerful, and omnipotent God who has guided humanity through prophets, revealed scriptures, and natural signs and miracles.

As such, Muslims also believe that Muhammed was the last and final prophet sent to humanity.

A follower of Islam is thus titled a Muslim and Muslims are expected, amongst other things, to take an oath declaring their belief in Islam, offer daily prayers, give frequently to charity, complete the fast in the month of Ramadan, and make a pilgrimage to the city of Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

Paul Pogba

Born on March 15, 1993, Paul Pogba is a French footballer who plays for the Premier League club Manchester United and the France national team. Playing mainly as a central midfielder, Pogba can also play as a left winger, attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder, and deep-lying playmaker.

Pogba was born in Lagny-sur-Marne, Seine-et-Marne, to Guinean parents and is a practicing Muslim. And at just the age of 29, he is one of the premiere Muslim footballers of his time.

Mohamed Elneny

Another great young Muslim footballer who is also under 30 years old is Mohamed Elneny. An Egyptian footballer, Elneny plays as a midfielder for the Premier League Club of Arsenal and the Egypt national team.

Beginning his senior career in the Egyptian Premier League, Elneny moved to the Swiss club of Basel and won eight honors with the team, including the Swiss Super League in each of his four seasons before being transferred to Arsenal.

A devout Muslim, Mohamed Elneny is also an ardent supporter of Palestine and Palestinian rights.

Mohamed Salah

One of the most popular Muslim athletes worldwide and one of the best young Muslim footballers, Mohamed Salah plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and captains the Egypt national team.

Commonly referred to as “Mo Salah”, he is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world and one of the greatest African players of all time.

Salah is most widely known for his style of play, including his finishing, dribbling, and speed abilities.

With Liverpool, Salah has a bevy of individual and team awards and accolades.

These include winning the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Premier League Golden Boot three times, the Premier League Playmaker of the Season, and finished third for the Best FIFA Men’s Player in 2018 and 2021.

Salah also received the 2018 FIFA Puskás Award for his winning strike in the first Merseyside derby of the 2017–18 season. He also holds the record for most Premier League goals scored (32) in a 38-game season, and ranks as Liverpool’s ninth-highest all-time top goalscorer.

Sadio Mané

Sadio Mané was born on April 10, 1992, and is a Senegalese Muslim footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and the Senegal national team.

He is considered to be one of the best players in the world currently and began his career with the Ligue 2 club Metz at the age of 19.

He would sign with Liverpool a mere 4 years after he began his professional career and helped the team reach back-to-back UEFA Champions League Finals in 2018 and 2019, winning in 2019.

In addition, Mané finished as the league’s joint-top goalscorer in the 2018–19 season, winning the Premier League Golden Boot.

Mané then helped end Liverpool’s 30 year league title drought by winning the 2019–20 Premier League. In October 2021, he scored his 100th Premier League goal, becoming the third African to reach the landmark.

As a Muslim footballer, he is a devout and practicing Muslim and can often be seen making du’a, or prayers, before the start of a match.

Sead Kolašinac

Sead Kolašinac a Bosnian Muslim footballer who plays as a left-back for Ligue 1 club Marseille and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

Having started his professional career at Schalke 04, he joined Arsenal in 2017, before being loaned back to Schalke 04 in 2021.

A practicing Muslim, he visited a mosque in Zenica during a national team concentration in 2019.

And, even more impressive than his football career, Kolašinac and his then teammate Mesut Özil were victims of an attempted carjacking, which he successfully fought off.

Xherdan Shaqiri

Xherdan Shaqiri was born on October 10, 1991 and is a Swiss Muslim footballer who plays as a winger for the Major League Soccer club of Chicago Fire and the Switzerland national team.

Shaqiri began his career at FC Basel, winning honors including three Swiss Super League titles, before moving to Bayern Munich. In January 2015, he moved to Inter Milan for a fee of €15 million, and seven months later to Stoke City for a club record £12 million.

After Stoke’s relegation from the Premier League in 2018, Shaqiri was transferred to Liverpool prior to the following season for a reported £13.5 million fee.

He was part of the UEFA Champions League winning squad in his first season. He also won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2019, as well as the Premier League in 2020, Liverpool’s first league title in 30 years.

Shaqiri was born in Gjilan, SFR Yugoslavia, to Kosovar Albanian parents. His family immigrated to Switzerland in 1992 and settled in a small town of Augst, near the French and German borders.

However, his father did not speak Swiss, so he had to wor as a dishwasher and conturction on roads. His mother worked as a cleaner in office building and frequently enlisted her children’s help.

Growing up, Xherdan Shaqiri family did not have much money and he would only be given extra cash on his birthdays.