The player profile of Sokol Cikalleshi, the albanian professional footballer

The player profile of Sokol Cikalleshi, the albanian professional footballer

Kevin Omuya
May 18, 2024 at 10:03 PM
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Sokol Cikalleshi was born in Albania. He is a talented forward who plays for the Albanian national team and the Turkish club Konyaspor. He debuted professionally with his hometown club, Besa, before moving out and traversing the world. This article delves into the footballer's personal life.

Sokol Cikallesh
Sokol Cikalleshi of Albania during the international friendly match on March 26, 2022(L) and on December 6, 2021(R). Photo: Pablo Morano, Serhat Cetinkaya
Source: UGC

Table of Сontents:

Cikalleshi has enjoyed an illustrious career in multiple European and Asian countries. He is known for his goalscoring ability and aerial prowess, which have made him stand out.

Profile summary

Title

Details

Full name

Sokol Cikalleshi

Gender

Male

Date of birth

July 27, 1990

Place of birth

Kavaje, Albania

Age

33 years old as of 2024

Nationality

Albanian

Ethnicity

White

Height

1.87m (6'2")

Weight

79kg (174lbs)

Marital status

Married

Wife

Cornelia

Profession

Professional football player

Current team

Konyaspor FC (Al Khaleej on loan)

Position

Striker

Social media

Instagram, X(Twitterr)

Sokol Cikalleshi's biography

Sokol was born in Kavaje, Albania, on July 27, 1990. At the time of this writing, Sokol Cikalleshi's age is 33. Details of his parents and siblings remain undisclosed.

Sokol Cikalleshi
Sokol Cikalleshi of Albania speaks to the media after the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying match on March 27, 2023 in Warsaw, Poland. Photo: Adam Nurkiewicz
Source: Original

Sokol Cikalleshi's family

The footballer is married to Cikalleshi. They have a daughter, Rajna, born on October 12, 2017.

Sokol Cikalleshi's career and stats

Sokol Cikaleshi
Rodri of Spain challenges Sokol Cikalleshi of Albania during the International Friendly match at RCDE Stadium on March 26, 2022, in Barcelona, ​​Spain. Photo: David Ramos
Source: Getty Images

Before making his professional debut at 17 with his local club Besa in 2007, he spent 2011 and 2012 on loan at Skënderbeu, Tirana, and Incheon United, a South Korean team. After signing with Kukësi in 2013, he impressed throughout the 2013–14 season, scoring 22 goals across all competitions.

His performance caught the eye of the Albania national team, and RNK Split, a Croatian side, acquired him in 2014. Before his 2015 transfer to Turkish club İstanbul Başakşehir, he scored 13 goals for the team in the 2014–15 season.

International career

Sokol Cikalleshi's Albanian career has seen him earn 50 caps and play in the UEFA Euro 2016. He also played for Albania's Under-21 side and debuted on May 31, 2014, against Romania. The striker has been a mainstay on the Albanian national team since Gianni De Biasi called him up, according to FIFA.

Sokol Cikalleshi
Fred (35) of Fenerbahce in action against Sokol Cikalleshi (17) of Konyaspor during the Turkish Super Lig week 35 football match on May 6, 2024. Photo: Serhat Cetinkaya
Source: Getty Images

Trophies and awards

During his career, the Albanian footballer has achieved much at club and international levels. His experience in several competitions has given him a versatile skill set that will benefit whichever squad he plays for. Here is a list of his achievements.

  • Albanian Cup (2009–10)
  • Albanian Supercup (2010)
  • Kategoria Superiore (2010–11)
  • Turkish Cup top scorer (2015–16, 2018-19)
  • Albanian Superliga Player of the Month March (2014)
  • UEFA Nations League C top scorer (2020-21)

Sokol Cikalleshi's salary and net worth

According to One Football, Sokol penned a one-year extension with Konyaspor in 2023, which ends on June 30, 2025. He earns a gross salary of around $250,000 or around $4.4k weekly, excluding bonuses. Sokol Cikalleshi's net worth is a closely guarded secret.

Sokol Cikalleshi
Oussuma Hadadi (L) of Kasimpasa in action against Sokol Cikalleshi (R) of Ittifak Holding Konyaspor on March 15, 2021. Photo: Elif Ozturk
Source: Getty Images

Frequently asked questions

The footballer has always contributed dramatically to teams that have tasted victory. Below are Sokol's frequently asked questions.

Is Sokol Cikalleshi on Instagram?

Despite having over 100k Instagram followers and being accessible on other platforms like Twitter, he rarely posts or engages with his audience.

Which club does Sokol Cikalleshi currently play for?

Sokol Cikalleshi plays for Konyaspor in the Turkish Süper Lig. The team signed him in 2020, and his contract expires in June 2025.

Sokol Cikalleshi during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
England's Jude Bellingham and Albania's Sokol Cikalleshi (right) battle for the ball during the FIFA World Cup Qualifying match on November 12, 2021. Photo: John Walton
Source: Getty Images

What is Sokol Cikalleshi’s role in the Albania national team?

Since debuting in 2014, Cikalleshi has earned over 60 caps and established himself as an integral part of Albania's national squad. He was an essential part of Albania's success at UEFA Euro 2016 and their run to the 2024 tournament, and he has scored fourteen goals for his country.

How has Sokol Cikalleshi performed internationally?

Cikalleshi has been a mainstay for Albania on the international stage, helping the national team win crucial matches with crucial goals and assists. His contributions were critical in ensuring Albania's spot in significant competitions like UEFA Euro 2016 and 2024​.

What number does Sokol Cikalleshi wear for his club and national team?

When representing Albania at international level, Cikalleshi dons jersey number 16. When playing with Konyaspor, he wears jersey number 17.

Final word

Sokol Cikalleshi's offensive versatility and goalscoring skills have made him a household name. He is also a two-footed powerhouse, a dangerous aerial threat, and a fantastic player overall.

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Authors
Kevin Omuya photo
Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.