Here's the list of top muslim football players around the World. Former players are not included in the list.
Mesut Ozil
Country : Germany
Club : Real Madrid
Position : Attacking midfielder
Mesut Özil born on 15 October 1988 is a practicing Muslim. He recites the Quran before his football matches. Talking to the Der Tagesspiegel, Özil said, "I always do that before I go out (on the pitch). I pray and my teammates know that they cannot talk to me during this brief period."
Samir Nasri
Country : France
Club : Manchester City
Position : Attacking midfielder Winger
Samir Nasri (born 26 June 1987) has been a revelation at Arsenal and has been hailed by many in France as 'The New Zidane'. This football player was born to Algerian parents in France and raised as a Muslim.
Ibrahim Afellay
Country : Netherlands
Football Club : Barcelona
Player Position : Attacking midfielder or Winger
He was named Best Young Player in The Netherlands in 2007.
"When I was a kid, I wanted to play for Barça – it was a dream. We all know that it is the best place to play football and when I heard about their interest I didn’t think twice, I just felt – sign now and close the deal quickly." said muslim football player, Ibrahim Afellay.
Karim Benzema
Country : France
Club : Real Madrid
Position : Striker
Karim Benzema (born 20 December 1987) was born to parents of Algerian-Kabyle descent, and is a famous openly practising Muslim.
Eric Abidal
Country : France
Club : Barcelona
Position : Defender
He has converted to Islam when he married with his wife, Hayet Kebir. They were neighbors in Lyon, in the district of La Duchere. "All I can say is that I am happy to have a wonderful woman who has not only given his heart and two great kids, but also a religion that preaches peace" He said.
Franck Ribery
Country : France
Club : Bayern Munich
Position : Winger
Franck Ribéry (born 7 April 1983) is a convert to Islam Football Player taking the name Bilal Yusuf Mohammed. Ribery was recently quoted as having said "I pray five times a day, I do it because it enables me to be released and I feel better afterwards.". His wife is Muslim and they have two daughters (Hiziya and Shahin). He says: "It is Islam that gives me strength on the field outside".
More Muslim Football Players
Nicolas Anelka
Country : France
Club : Shanghai Shenhua
Position : Striker
Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka converted to Islam in 2004 taking the Muslim name of Abdul-Salam Bilal. He considered leaving European football to play in the UAE: "I am ready to stay here and to play for a club in the Emirates. I am not keen to go back to England or France."
Kolo Toure
Country : Ivory Coast
Club : Manchester City
Position : Central defender
Kolo Habib Touré (born - 19 March 1981) is the elder brother of Manchester City's Yaya Touré and Makasa's Ibrahim Touré. Toure is a practicing Muslim and has previously stated his desire to become a role model for young British Muslims.
Abou Diaby
Country : France
Club : Arsenal
Position : Midfielder
Vassiriki Abou Diaby commonly known as Abou Diaby while growing up, developed a fascination towards the subjects of religion, philosophy, science, and astronomy.
Hatem Ben Arfa
Country : France
Club : Newcastle United
Position : Winger
Hatem Ben Arfa (born 7 March 1987) is of Tunisian descent. "I believe in God. But I do not show it. It is a thing of the heart, something intimate between me and myself" he said. Hatem Ben Arfa makes his prayer from time to time, an apology: “I do not have too much time".
Khalid Boulahrouz
Country : Netherlands
Club : VfB Stuttgart
Position : Defender
Khalid Boulahrouz (born 28 December 1981, in Maassluis, Netherlands) is another good muslim footballer of Berber Moroccan Rif descent.
Mohamed Sissoko
Country : France
Club : Paris Saint-Germain
Position : Defensive midfielder
Full name : Mohamed Lamine Sissoko Gillan
Sulley Muntari
Country : Ghana
Club : Milan
Position : Central midfielder
Sulleyman Ali "Sulley" Muntari was born 27 August 1984 in Konongo.
Abdelkader Ghezzal
Country : Algeria
Club : Levante
Position : Forward
Abdelkader Mohamed Ghezzal was born December 5, 1984 in Décines-Charpieu.
Mido
Club : Zamalek
Position : Striker
Full name : Ahmed Hossam Hussein Abdelhamid
Frederick Kanoute
Country : Malia
Club : Sevilla FC
Position : Striker
Frédéric Oumar Kanouté (born 2 September 1977) is a French-born Malian Muslim Football Player who was named the 2007 African Footballer of the Year and is the first foreign-born player to win it. He has been practising Islam since the age of 20.
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