Top Muslim Football Players

This hub is a collection of some of the top Muslim footballers who have either retired or are still playing for their clubs and national teams. I know that this article can’t cover all the Muslim football players but in coming up with and narrowing with the below top 20 I have considered many factors which include but are not limited to:

• the quality of the leagues they play in
• the contribution they make towards their clubs and national teams
• how well they are known by the members of the public and particularly those who watch soccer
• how talented and gifted they are

1. Zinadine Zidane

He was possibly one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. Popularly known as zizou, zinadine zidane was a Muslim French footballer of Algerian origin who has played for some of the biggest football clubs in the world including real Madrid.

2. Nicholas anelka

Nicolas Bilal Anelka is also a famous French Muslim footballer who converted to Islam. He currently plays for premier league side Chelsea football club. He also had the opportunity to play for some of the biggest clubs in the world including arsenal, Manchester city, Liverpool, real Madrid and Bolton.

3. Samir Nasri

Samir Nasri is a promising and talented young Muslim French midfielder. He is possibly one of the best midfielders in the world right now despite his young age. He started his career at French club Olympic Marseille before moving to English club arsenal where he spent three seasons and is currently plying his trade for Roberto Mancini’s Manchester city.

4. Hamit Altintop

Hamit Altintop is a Turkish defender who currently plays for Spanish soccer giants real Madrid. He also played for German powerhouse Bayern Munich.

5. Mesuit ozil

Ozil is a young and gifted Muslim German midfielder of Turkish origin. He currently plays for Spanish side real Madrid and is an important player of them. He tore into the public limelight in the 2010 world cup in South Africa when he was with the German national football team. He put on a series of top performances and since then he hasn’t looked back and is currently one of the best midfield football players.

6. Abou diaby

Vassiriki Abou diaby born 11^th may 1986 is a defensive French midfielder who professes Islam. He plays for arsenal football club located in north London of England. Before coming to England he played for French clubs Paris saint Germain and Auxerre.

7. Frederic kanoute

Frederic Oumar Kanoute born 2^nd September 1977 is a Malian international striker who currently plays for Spanish side sevilla. Before his move to Spain he played for tottenham hotspurs, west ham united and olimpique Lyon. He is possibly one of the top strikers in the football game. He is a former African footballer of the year and a two uefa cup winner with sevilla.

8. Eric abidal

Abidal is a French left back defender who plays for current European champions Barcelona of Spain. He established himself as a left back who can be relied on by both club and country. He has won the champions league, Spanish league, kings cup among many other titles with F.C. Barcelona. Before moving to Spain he had spells in French clubs lille, Monaco and Olympic lyon.

9. Kareem benzema

Benzima or benz as he is commonly known is a rare talented striker who plays for the French national team and Spanish giants real Madrid. He started his career at lyon where he excelled and won some titles and individual honors including the league’s player of the season and the top scorer.

10. Franck Ribery

Ribery, a Muslim French national is arguably one of the best wing midfield football players in the world currently. He plays for German side Bayern Munich and many fans in the Allianz arena adore him for his top performances and he rarely lets them down.

11. Toure brothers

Yaya and kolo are Ivorian Muslim brothers and they both play for English club Manchester city. Kolo played for arsenal before moving to the blue half of Manchester while his brother arrived from Barcelona of Spain where he won many notable titles with them.

12. Suley Muntari

Muntari is a Ghanaian midfielder who plays for inter Milan of Italy. During his career he also had the opportunity to play for Portsmouth and Sunderland both of whom are United Kingdom clubs. He is an important player for the Ghana national team as well.

honorable mentions goes to the following·

• Newcastle United duo of Demba Ba and Papis Cisse
• Arda Turan
• Amr Zaki
• Mohammed Zidan
• Nuri Sahin
• Hateem Ben Arfa
• Ahmed Hassan
• Mohamed Abou Trika
• Kareem ziani

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