Top 25 best Muslim football players in the world right now

Top 25 best Muslim football players in the world right now

Samuel Lisubila, Adrianna Simwa
updated at February 13, 2024 at 11:54 AM
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Football is a prestigious ball game that engages players from all nationalities worldwide. The best Muslim football players are among the best footballers in the world, and they have played for the biggest leagues in the world.

Best Muslim football players in the world
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Source: UGC

There are over 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide: a quarter of the world’s population. Most people might immediately recognise Muslim players, while others might not. Because of this, the listicle below features players some might have never known are from the Islamic religion. Is your favourite player Muslim? Read on to find out.

Top 25 best Muslim football players in the world

Several high-profile Muslim football players have achieved great success in their careers. Here is a list of the best Muslim football players of all time.

25. Nayef Aguerd - West Ham United

the best muslim football players
West Ham United's Nayef Aguerd during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and West Ham United at Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, England. Photo: Rob Newell
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 30 March 1996
  • Age: 27 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Kenitra, Morocco

Nayef Aguerd plays as a defender for West Ham United and Morocco national team. He began his career with the Mohammed VI Football Academy before moving to FUS Rabat in 2014. In 2022, Nayef Aguerd signed a five-year contract for a fee of £30 million

24. Amad Diallo - Manchester United

best muslim football players in the world
Amad Diallo of Manchester United in action during the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and Olympique Lyonnais at BT Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo: Mark Runnacles
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 11 July 2002
  • Age: 21 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Amad Diallo is among the young Muslim football players who play as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Ivory Coast national team. In 2021, Amad Diallo signed a five-year contract with an option of an extra year for a transfer fee of €25 million – €40 million, including bonuses.

23. Arnaut Danjuma - Everton

best muslim players in football
Arnaut Danjuma of Everton during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Everton FC at London Stadium in London, England. Photo: Vince Mignott
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 31 January 1997
  • Age: 26 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Lagos, Nigeria

Arnaut Danjuma is among the talented and best Muslim players in football from Nigeria. He plays as a forward for the Netherlands national team and Everton, on loan from La Liga club Villarreal. In 2021, Arnaut Danjuma signed a five-year contract to join Villarreal for a fee of €25 million.

22. Thomas Partey - Arsenal

Best muslim football players of all time
Thomas Partey of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium in London, England. Photo: David Price/Arsenal FC
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 13 June 1993
  • Age: 30 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Krobo Odumase, Ghana

Thomas Partey is among the most popular England best Muslim football players. He plays for the English team Arsenal and the Ghana national team as a midfielder. After moving to Arsenal for a £45 million fee, Thomas Partey became the most expensive Ghanaian player of all time.

21. Ibrahima Konaté - Liverpool

best Muslim football players
Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool during the warm-up before the Premier League match between Luton Town and Liverpool FC at Kenilworth Road in Luton, England. Photo: John Powell/Liverpool
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 25 May 1999
  • Age: 24 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Paris, France

Ibrahima Konaté plays as a defender for Liverpool and the France national team. In 2021, Liverpool signed him for a fee of £36 million. Ibrahima Konaté won the EFL Cup and FA Cup in his first season.

20. Kurt Zouma - West Ham United

World's best muslim football players
Kurt Zouma of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London Stadium on 7 August 2022 in London, England. Photo: James Gill
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 27 October 1994
  • Age: 29 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Lyon, France

He is a French centre-back for the Premier League team West Ham and the France National team. Kurt Zouma is a great defender whose defensive skills are unmatched by most top-league defenders. Most fans and pundits think his style of play is underrated, as he can manoeuvre through different positions and has skills compared to mid-fielders.

19. Xherdan Shaqiri - Chicago Fire

Who is the best muslim footballer?
Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland gestures during the UEFA Nations League match between Czech Republic and Switzerland at Sinobo Stadium on 2 June 2022 in Prague, Czech Republic. Photo: Marcio Machado
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 10 October 1991
  • Age: 32 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Gjilan

Xherdan is a Swiss professional footballer who plays for the Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire and the Switzerland national team. Xherdan Shaqiri is a Muslim but celebrates Christmas, which is a mainly Christian celebration. This, he said, is because his family used to celebrate it during his childhood.

18. Edin Dzeko - Fenerbahçe

the best muslim football players
Eden Dzeko of Fenerbahce shows appreciation to the fans during the Turkish Super League match between Fenerbahce and Trabzonspor in Istanbul, Turkey. Photo: Ahmad Mora/DeFodi
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 17 March 1986
  • Age: 37 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

He is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a striker for and captains both Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. Edin Dzeko has practised Islam since he was born into a Muslim-faith family originally from Turkey, where most people are Muslims.

17. Benjamin Mendy - Lorient

England best muslim football players
Lorient's French defender #05 Benjamin Mendy runs with the ball during the French L1 football match between FC Lorient and AS Monaco at Stade du Moustoir in Lorient, western France. Photo: Damien Meyer
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 17 July 1994
  • Age: 29 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Longjumeau, France

He is a French professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Ligue 1 club Lorient and the French national team. The great defender is a devoted Muslim who has performed the Hajj in Mecca. Benjamin Mendy won the Premier League in his first season in England.

16. Granit Xhaka - Bayer Leverkusen

best muslim football players in the world
Granit Xhaka of Bayer 04 Leverkusen looks on during the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, Germany. Photo: Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 27 September 1992
  • Age: 31 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Basel, Switzerland

Xhaka is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen and the Switzerland national team. Granit Xhaka is of the Islam faith from a Baklan background alongside most of his Arsenal teammates.

15. Ousmane Dembele - Paris Saint-Germain

best muslim players in football
Ousmane Dembele warms up during a Paris Saint-Germain training session at Campus PSG in Paris, France. Photo: Aurelien Meunier
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 15 May 1997
  • Age: 26 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Vernon, France

Masour Ousmane Dembele is a French professional footballer who plays as a winger for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the France national team. Ousmane Dembele is a practising Muslim who married a Moroccan wife in a traditional ceremony in 2019.

14. Sadio Mane - Al Nassr

best muslim football players
Sadio Mane of Bayern Munich looks on during the DFB Cup second-round match between FC Augsburg and FC Bayern München at WWK-Arena on 19 October 2022 in Augsburg, Germany. Photo: Alexander Hassenstein
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 10 April 1992
  • Age: 31 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Bambali, Senegal

Sadio Mane is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and the Senegal national team. He is a generous man who uses a great amount of his salary for donations and projects. Sadio Mane is a Muslim and is seen making d’au before the start of each match.

13. Riyad Mahrez - Al-Ahli

best muslim football players in the world
Riyad Mahrez of Al Ahli during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Hilal and Al Ahli at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Justin Setterfield
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 21 February 1991
  • Age: 32 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Sarcelles, France

Riyad Karim Mahrez plays as a right winger for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli and captains the Algeria national team. Mostly known for his dribbling techniques, Riyad Mahrez is a practising Muslim who made the Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca.

12. Ilkay Gundogan - Barcelona

best muslim football players in the world
İlkay Gündoğan of FC Barcelona warms up during a training session of FC Barcelona at Volksparkstadion in Hamburg, Germany. Photo: Stuart Franklin
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 24 October 1990
  • Age: 33 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Ilkay Gundogan plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Barcelona and captains the German national team. Ilkay Gundogan says that his Muslim family and migrants motivate him to be who he is today.

11. Antonio Rudiger - Real Madrid

Best Muslim football players
Antonio Rudiger of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and RB Leipzig, Group F, played at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on 14 Sep 2022 in Madrid, Spain. Photo: Magma
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 3 March 1993
  • Age: 30 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Berlin, Germany

He is a professional German footballer for the La Liga club Real Madrid and the German national team. Unlike most of his fans know, Antonio Rudiger is a practising Muslim born in Berlin to a German father and a Sierra Leonean mother.

10. Saïd Benrahma - West Ham United

best muslim players in football
Said Benrahma of West Ham United, checks out the pitch prior to the Premier League match between Brentford FC and West Ham United at Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, England. Photo: West Ham United FC
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 10 August 1995
  • Age: 28 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Aïn Témouchent, Algeria

Saïd Benrahma is among the top 10 best Muslim football players. He plays for West Ham United and the Algeria national team as a midfielder. West Ham paid a transfer fee of £23.1 million for Saïd Benrahma.

9. Mohamed Elneny - Arsenal

top 10 muslim football players
Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium in London, England. Photo: David Price/Arsenal
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 11 July 1992
  • Age: 31 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: El Mahalla El Kubra, Egypt

Mohamed Elneny is a defensive midfielder for Arsenal and the Egyptian Premier League. Having begun his career with the Egyptian team Al Mokawloon, Mohamed Elneny won four league titles in Switzerland.

8. Islam Slimani - Coritiba

England best muslim football players
Islam Slimani reacts during the UEFA Europa Conference League Quarter Finals 2nd leg match between AZ and RSC Anderlecht at AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar, Netherlands Photo: Jeroen Meuwsen/BSR Agency
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 18 June 1988
  • Age: 35 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Algiers [El Djazaïr], Algeria

Islam Slimani plays for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Coritiba and the Algeria national team as a forward. In August 2023, he moved from Anderlecht to Coritiba. During his time there, Islam Slimani made ten league appearances and scored eight goals.

7. Marouane Fellaini-Bakkioui - Shandong Taishan

Who is the best muslim footballer?
Marouane Fellaini of Shandong Luneng Taishan reacts during a friendly match against Shijiazhuang Yongchang on 11 July 2020 in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province of China. Photo: VCG
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 22 November 1987
  • Age: 35 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Etterbeek, Germany

Fellaini is a former Manchester United player who recently played plays as a mid-fielder for the Chinese club Shandong Taishan. Marouane Fellaini-Bakkioui is of Moroccan heritage and a practising Muslim.

6. Mohamed Salah Ghaly - Liverpool FC

best muslim players in the world
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool FC looks on during the pre-season friendly match between FC Red Bull Salzburg and FC Liverpool at Red Bull Arena on 27 July 2022 in Salzburg, Austria. Photo: Roland Krivec
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 15 June 1992
  • Age: 31 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Nagrig, Egypt

Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly is a professional footballer for Liverpool FC in the Premier League and captains the Egypt national team. The Egyptian is one of the most elite African footballers, and unlike some of his fans know, he is a Muslim. This is evident by how Mohamed Salah Ghaly bows down to thank God every time he scores.

5. N’Golo Kante - Al-Ittihad

Best muslim football players of all time
Ngolo Kante of Al Ittihad looks during the AFC Champions League Group C match between Al Ittihad and Air Force at King Abdullah City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Yasser Bakhsh
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 29 March 1991
  • Age: 32 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Paris, France

N’Golo Kante plays for the Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad and France national team. Known for his humble, down-to-earth figure off the pitch, N’Golo Kante is widely considered one of the best central midfielders in the world, with an amazing work rate and defensive acumen. He is also a Muslim born to Milan parents who migrated from Mali to France in 1980.

4. Paul Pogba - Juventus

best muslim football players in the world 2022
Juventus player Paul Pogba press conference at Allianz Stadium on 12 July 2022 in Turin, Italy. Photo: Daniele Badolato
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 15 March 1993
  • Age: 30 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Lagny-Sur-Marne, France

Paul Labile Pogba is an amazing midfielder for Serie A club Juventus and the France national team. His prowess in the game can be seen in his ability to switch positions from the central mid-field position to the left winger, attacking midfielder, defensive mid-fielder and deep-laying playmaker. Paul Pogba converted to Islam and said it had made him a ‘better person’.

3. Mesut Ozil - Retired

Top 20 best Muslim football players in the world right now
Mesut Ozil of Basaksehir FK during the UEFA Europa Conference League match against Royal Antwerp FC at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium on 18 August 2022 in Istanbul, Turkey. Photo: Orange Pictures
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 15 October 1988
  • Age: 35 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Mesut Ozil is a former attacking midfielder. Rivalled by few, his soft touch, control and precision, blended with his technical skills, creativity and vision, have made him one of the most successful players in the world. Also, he is a Muslim and is occasionally seen reciting the Quran before his matches. Mesut Ozil announced his retirement from professional football on 22 March 2023.

2. Karim Benzema - Al-Ittihad

young muslim football players
Karim Benzema of Al-Ittihad during the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Shabab and Al-Ittihad at Al-Shabab Club Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Justin Setterfield
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 19 December 1987
  • Age: 35 years old (as of 2023)
  • Place of birth: Lyon, France

Karim Mostafa Benzema is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for and captains the Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner is often regarded as a complete player and one of the best strikers of all time. Karim Benzema is one of the world’s best Muslim football players.

1. Wahbi Khazri - Montpellier

Best muslim football players of all time
Wahbi Khazri of Tunisia during the World Cup match between Tunisia and France at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Photo: David S. Bustamante
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 8 February 1991
  • Age: 32 years as of 2023
  • Place of birth: Ajaccio, Corsica, France

Wahbi Khazri plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Montpellier. Between 2013 and 2022, he participated in 74 games and scored 25 goals for the national team, serving as its previous captain. Wahbi Khazri competed for Tunisia in five Africa Cup of Nations competitions and the FIFA World Cups of 2018 and 2022.

Summary table of the best Muslim football players

No

Name

Current team

1

Wahbi Khazri

Montpellier

2

Karim Benzema

Al-Ittihad

3

Mesut Ozil

Retired

4

Paul Pogba

Juventus

5

N’Golo Kante

Al-Ittihad

6

Mohamed Salah Ghaly

Liverpool FC

7

Marouane Fellaini-Bakkioui

Shandong Taishan

8

Islam Slimani

Coritiba

9

Mohamed Elneny

Arsenal

10

Saïd Benrahma

West Ham United

11

Antonio Rudiger

Real Madrid

12

Ilkay Gundogan

Barcelona

13

Riyad Mahrez

Al-Ahli

14

Sadio Mane

Al Nassr

15

Ousmane Dembele

Paris Saint-Germain

16

Granit Xhaka

Bayer Leverkusen

17

Benjamin Mendy

Lorient

18

Edin Dzeko

Fenerbahçe

19

Xherdan Shaqiri

Chicago Fire

20

Kurt Zouma

West Ham United

21

Ibrahima Konaté

Liverpool

22

Thomas Partey

Arsenal

23

Arnaut Danju

Everton

24

Amad Diallo

Manchester United

25

Nayef Aguerd

West Ham United

Who is the best Muslim footballer of all time?

Zinedine Zidane is regarded as one of the most popular Muslim footballers of all time, thanks to his prowess in the game. Born in a poor neighbourhood in Marseilles, Zinedine Zidane became the greatest Real Madrid legend and one of the most successful players in history.

Who are the top 10 Muslim football players?

Some of the top 10 Muslim footballers include:

  1. Wahbi Khazri
  2. Karim Benzema
  3. Mesut Ozil
  4. Paul Pogba
  5. N’Golo Kante
  6. Mohamed Salah Ghaly
  7. Marouane Fellaini-Bakkioui
  8. Islam Slimani
  9. Mohamed Elneny
  10. Saïd Benrahma

The best Muslim football players have repeatedly proven to be the best in the game. Despite the difference in religion with teammates, they have been able to do their best and bring out the best in others.

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Authors
Samuel Lisubila photo
Samuel Lisubila
Adrianna Simwa photo
Adrianna Simwa
Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Sports Brief, where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years.