Player Muslim Soccer

Samir Nasri, Arsenal
Samir Nasri is a Muslim soccer player who plays in English Premier League club, Arsenal. Because of his ball domination, deadly passes, speed, and mobility in every region, Samir Nasri has been hailed as 'New Zidane' for French national team.

Unlike Karim Benzema which does not show his religious side on the field, this is not the case for Samir Nasri who does not care what people will say it. At the beginning of each game, Nasri has isolated few seconds for raise his both hands to heaven, to recite the Fatiha.

Abel Xavier @ Faisal Xavier


Abel Xavier, former Portuguese player, has made the important decision to convert to Islam and quitting football at the age of 38. The Portugal star now wants to go by the name of Faisal Xavier and will embark on humanitarian projects with the United Nations.

Faisal Xavier, a Muslim soccer player, said: "While it's an emotional farewell, I hope to participate in something very special as I enter a new stage of my life."
"In times of trouble, I have found comfort in Islam. Gradually I learned of learned a religion that professes peace, equality, freedom and hope. These are foundations with which I identify."

Eric Abidal


Eric Abidal is a Muslim soccer player of French national team and Barcelona as defender. He has converted to Islam when he married with his wife, Hayet Kebir. Eric Abidal and Hayet Kebir 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.

In interview conducted by Le Buteur newspaper, Abidal said about Islam and soccer.

Playing with Barca and make Ramadhan, is this possible?
Yes even with Yaya Toure we have chance to play official matches at night. We could do fasting Ramadhan in training, but never in an official match.

Is it difficult for a Muslim player to adapt to the demands of high level?
No, and examples of Muslims moving to the highest level are legion. Even in Barcelona, we both practice as well as possible the precepts of Islam by trying to reconcile these two things.

Karim Benzema, Umrah n Ramadhan

Before his entry on the field, it is not uncommon to see Ribery pray. His wife is Muslim, he himself has chosen Islam as religion and they have two daughters (Hiziya and Shahin). He moreover said: "It is Islam that gives me strength on the field outside".In January 2009, the French international that plays for Bayern Munich, Franck Ribéry, a Muslim soccer player, visited to Mecca to perform Umrah during an internship in Saudi Arabia. After playing the first half of the friendly match in Jeddah, Franck Ribery and his teammate Hamid Altintop have traveled to Mecca, 70 km. Then they returned to the hotel at night to join the rest of their team of Bayern Munich in order to continue preparing for the Bundesliga.

The German press has asked him how he reconciled the observance of Ramadan and its obligations in the Bundesliga. "The days off I am fasting, but not when I have to play a game," said Ribery, who adopted the Islamic name Bilal Mohammed Yusuf.

Hasan Salihamidzic; Juventus


Hasan Salihamidžić (age 32), is a muslim football midfielder currently playing for Italian Serie A club Juventus F.C. He was born to a Bosniak family, which in the English-speaking world, Bosniaks are most commonly known as Bosnian Muslims.

His father, Ahmed Salihamidzic said about Hasan: "My son has three basic characteristics - hard work, ambition and a desire to progress - He has two faults: he's too ambitious and he can't stand to be beaten. When he's lost a match, he switches his phone off for two or three days and nobody can talk to him. Maybe that's a good thing, maybe that's the reason he's so successful."
(source: guardian.co.uk)

Hatem Ben Arfa, Marseille


Hatem Ben Arfa is a Muslim soccer player who plays as winger in Marseille, Ligue 1. "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. As a hesitant Muslim, Hatem Ben Arfa makes his prayer from time to time, an apology: “I do not have too much time”

Ibrahim Afellay, PSV Eindhoven


Ibrahim Afellay (age 22) is a muslim footballer playing for PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eredivisie. He has played for the Dutch national team and usually plays as the centre attacking midfielder for PSV but can also play at the right or left side due to his creative qualities.

He is considered to be one of the most existing young talents in Dutch football. In 2007 he was named as Dutch Football Talent of the Year and joined Dutch national team in Euro 2008.

Karim Benzema


Karim Benzema was born on December 19, 1987 in Lyon, France. He is a Muslim soccer player who currently plays as a striker in Real Madrid, La Liga.

He is coming from Muslim family in Algeria. His uncle is the imam of the mosque's original village, located in Jlil Ath, 70 km south-east of Bejaia. In the late 1950s, the grandfather of Karim Benzema, Da Lakehal Benzema left the village Tighzert to settle in Lyon with his family. Karim is from the third generation of Benzema. At home everybody respects the pillars of Islam, even if he does not show it on the ground.

Khalid Boulahrouz, VfB Stuttgart


Khalid Boulahrouz (age 27) is a muslim footbaler who plays in VfB Stuttgart, Bundesliga. Khalid is a Dutch player and usually plays as defender or winger. In one interview with de volkskrant newspaper, he says about Islam for him: "I try as much as possible to develop in Islam. Five times a day I pray and I read the Koran. I learn Arabic, so I can be better understood. Reading the Koran gives me peace and take the stress away. What I am up, I try to put into practice. Patience is very important in difficult times, I must especially spreading. Patience is the light."

Kolo Toure Move to Machester City


Kolo Toure, The Ivory Coast defender who had seven years at Arsenal, signed a four-year contract at the biggest spending club in England, Manchester City.

Toure, a Muslim player, said: "I felt the time was right for a new challenge and I am still at an age, 28, where I feel I am at my peak and will play my best football." Meanwhile Manager Mark Hughes said about Toure, "He is strong, quick, reads the game well and will be an influential figure in the dressing room."

Yaya Toure, Barcelona


Yaya Toure is a Muslim soccer player who embraced Islam since birth, like his older brother, Kolo Toure. Yaya was born on May 13, 1983 and now playing in Barcelona as defensive midfielder. He became the first player from Ivory Coast, who plays for Barcelona. At Barcelona, there is two other Muslim soccer players beside Yaya Toure, they are Seydou Keita and Eric Abidal.

Just like Kolo Toure, Yaya is also good to read Qur'an and often send donations for poor children in Côte d'Ivoire. Physical ability Yaya Toure has admitted, with great technique and clever ball control. He was named by Eurosport in 2005 as one of the most promising young players in the world.

Lee Woon-Jae Ready for World Cup 2010


At 36 years old, Korean national team goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae is showing that he still has what it takes to compete at a high level. He has include as one of 35 players for South Korea training camps in South Africa and Spain next month. The 2002 semi-finalists has been drawn into Group B of the 2010 World Cup along with Argentina, Nigeria and Greece.

Mahamadou Diarra, Real Madrid


Mahamadou Diarra (age 27) is a Muslim football defensive midfielder who play for Real Madrid in LaLiga. On the international scene, he has played numerous matches for the Mali national team, together with Frederic Kanoute and Seydou Keita.

He is a man of faith and holds his religion, his traditions and his country in the highest regard. He celebrates Ramadhan on a yearly basis and “every coach has respected my decision,” says Diarra, “They are difficult days during which one needs to eat, but it only lasts one month. I have another ten to play well.”

Diarra donates a large portion of what he earns to Mali with the hope of building a better future for his fellow citizens.

NICOLAS ANELKA


Anelka Talk About Himself
"I am not one to talk a lot, certainly not in the dressing room, but that is not being rude, it's because I am basically shy"

"Other players will tell you I don't speak too much. But they respect who I am and how I am"

"I converted to Islam when I was 16 because most of the kids in the Paris suburb where I grew up were Muslim. I don't pray in the dressing room or anything like that"

"It's a private thing that I take home with me but I like to live a good life"

"So who is the real Nicolas Anelka? I am just a simple person. I want to enjoy my football. I don't do much outside. I just go home and watch TV and sit with my friends"

"The image of me as some sort of trouble-maker is wrong. I don't go out much and you will never see me drunk"

"And on the pitch I have just one red card, when I was at City - against Arsenal!"

"For me, a good night out is at a restaurant with family and friends. That's it."

The Most Feared Striker Duo in Premier League
Last Premier League season, Anelka won Golden Boat with 19 goals. His partership with Dider Drogba made they are the league's most feared striker duo. Here is Anelka said about his partnership.

"For years people have seen me just as an out and out striker but I wanted to play in a pair," he says.

"I did it for that brief time at Liverpool with either Michael Owen or Emile Heskey and really liked it"

"Despite what people think I am just as happy to make goals than score them. At the moment this is what I try and do for Didier. I have changed my position"

"When we are together I operate as the second striker, almost a midfielder, and it works"

"But he tries to do the same for me when he can. People were wrong in the first half of last season when they thought there was friction between us"

"There wasn't. We just wanted to play as two strikers together like we are now"

"I won the Golden Boot last year but maybe Didier will this season. It's a partnership. When I first arrived we spoke about it but it took nearly a year for it to happen."

Seydou Keita, Barcelona



Seydou Ahmed Keita (age 29) is a muslim soccer midfielder, who is currently playing for FC Barcelona in LaLiga. He has played for Malian national team since 2000. He celebrating goal by performing the Muslim 'Sujud' or prostration to God on the field. You can see his celebration in this video, when Barcelona against Getafe.

Sulleyman Ali Muntari, Internazionale



Sulley Ali Muntari (age 24) is a muslim soccer player who plays in Internazionale, Serie A as midfielder. This Ghanaian player often celebrating his goal by performing the Muslim 'Sujud' or prostration to God on the field. As he did after scored the winning 1-0 goal against Juventus.


Zidane will Visit Gaza in March 2010



Muslim soccer star, Zinedine Zidane will be paying a visit to the Gaza Strip as part of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) efforts to promote peace between Palestinians and Israelis. He is scheduled to travel to the blockaded enclave in March 2010 as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.

“I'm thrilled to be appointed by the UN children's organization as an envoy to tour Gaza Strip. I will make every effort to give Gaza residents great big smiles on their faces. Gazans have suffered serious losses, damage, and injuries due to Israeli acts of violence,” Zidane stated.