1. Home
  2. Slideshows
  3. Who are the biggest Muslim stars of Euro 2016?

Who are the biggest Muslim stars of Euro 2016?

Published June 9th, 2016 - 01:32 GMT

Football fans across the globe are looking forward to Euro 2016, set to kickoff tomorrow, June 10. And fans are anticipating several fierce matches as many teams appear to be dead evenly matched. Euro 2016 will also feature several Muslim players representing their national teams including France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Turkey, Albania and others. Moreover, the Islamic holy month of Ramadan coincides with Euro 2016, thus raising the question of how fasting will affect the Muslim players’ performances. This is reminiscent of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, also held during Ramadan. While some may opt to fast, not all of the Muslim players in Euro 2016 are practicing, and some Muslim footballers like Germany’s Mesut Ozil chose not to fast during the World Cup two years ago. Moreover, the French national team’s Muslim players just announced they won’t be fasting for the tournament. That being said, let’s meet the biggest Muslim names of Euro 2016.

Images credit: AFP

View as a slider
View as a list
Sami Khedira

Juventus central midfielder Sami Khedira was born in 1987 to a Tunisian father and a German mother in Stuttgart. He won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2014. He’s also known for posing for GQ in 2011 with his (naked) girlfriend Lena Gercke, leading to the arrests of three journalists in Tunisia when it was re-published there.

Stephan El Sharaawy

The 23 year old Italian forward/winger has regained much of his luster since moving to Roma this year, where he’s playing on loan from Milan. His father’s Egyptian heritage gave him the nickname ‘Il Faraone’, Italian for ‘The Pharaoh.’

Adil Rami

Adil Rami was born in Bastia on the island of Corsica to Moroccan parents, and plays for Sevilla as a central defender. A late call-up in place of the injured Raphaël Varane, he finished the season strong by winning the European League with Sevilla.

Marouane Fellaini

Marouane Fellaini, born in 1987 is a midfielder for Belgium. His Moroccan dad was a goalkeeper for Racing Mechelen back in the day. Fellaini has been a full international for Belgium since 2007 and is the team’s top scorer at present with 15 goals. The Manchester United star's level has dropped lately, says Belgium coach Marc Wilmots.

Mesut Özil

Mesut Özil is an attacking midfielder/winger for Germany and Arsenal. Born in 1987, he is a third-generation Turkish-German and a practicing Muslim, and reportedly recites the Quran before taking the field. He started off the season great before cooling off and will be a key part of Joachim Loew’s squad.

Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba was born in 1993 in Paris to parents from Guinea. Pogba is a central midfielder for Juventus, and plays both in attack and defence. His former club Manchester United said of him “he has an eye for goal and a penchant for the spectacular. Pogba was a key member of the Juventus squad that reached the 2015 UEFA Champions League Final.

Arda Turan

The 29 year old Istanbul, Turkey native Arda Turan is one of the most prominent Turkish players in history, and is characterized by his individual skills and field vision. Turan is further known for his charity work for sick children, and being featured on the cover of the Turkish FIFA 2015 video game.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

The multi-ethnic Zlatan Ibrahimović was born in 1981 in Sweden to a Muslim Bosniak father and a Croatian Catholic mother of part Albanian descent. Joining Paris-Saint Germain in 2012, the striker became the club’s all time leading scorer in 2016. He published a best-selling autobiography, “I am Zlatan” in 2011.

Xherdan Shaqiri

Xerdan Shaqiri was born in 1991 in Gjilan, Kosovo. The midfielder for Stoke City immigrated to Switzerland in 1992 with his family. According to FIFA’s website, he is “unpredictable on the ball, adept with both feet, clinical in front of goal and possesses excellent vision”. He is also nicknamed "the Alpine Messi.”.

Hakan Calhanoglu

Hakan Çalhanoğlu is an attacking midfielder for the Turkish team and the German club Bayer Leverkusen. Born in Germany in 1994, the 22 year old chooses to play for Turkey-his ancestral homeland-over his native Germany. One of the best free kickers in the world, he’s at times compared to Mesut Özil, another German of Turkish descent.

Sami Khedira
Stephan El Sharaawy
Adil Rami
Marouane Fellaini
Mesut Özil
Paul Pogba
Arda Turan
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Xherdan Shaqiri
Hakan Calhanoglu
Sami Khedira
Juventus central midfielder Sami Khedira was born in 1987 to a Tunisian father and a German mother in Stuttgart. He won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2014. He’s also known for posing for GQ in 2011 with his (naked) girlfriend Lena Gercke, leading to the arrests of three journalists in Tunisia when it was re-published there.
Stephan El Sharaawy
The 23 year old Italian forward/winger has regained much of his luster since moving to Roma this year, where he’s playing on loan from Milan. His father’s Egyptian heritage gave him the nickname ‘Il Faraone’, Italian for ‘The Pharaoh.’
Adil Rami
Adil Rami was born in Bastia on the island of Corsica to Moroccan parents, and plays for Sevilla as a central defender. A late call-up in place of the injured Raphaël Varane, he finished the season strong by winning the European League with Sevilla.
Marouane Fellaini
Marouane Fellaini, born in 1987 is a midfielder for Belgium. His Moroccan dad was a goalkeeper for Racing Mechelen back in the day. Fellaini has been a full international for Belgium since 2007 and is the team’s top scorer at present with 15 goals. The Manchester United star's level has dropped lately, says Belgium coach Marc Wilmots.
Mesut Özil
Mesut Özil is an attacking midfielder/winger for Germany and Arsenal. Born in 1987, he is a third-generation Turkish-German and a practicing Muslim, and reportedly recites the Quran before taking the field. He started off the season great before cooling off and will be a key part of Joachim Loew’s squad.
Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba was born in 1993 in Paris to parents from Guinea. Pogba is a central midfielder for Juventus, and plays both in attack and defence. His former club Manchester United said of him “he has an eye for goal and a penchant for the spectacular. Pogba was a key member of the Juventus squad that reached the 2015 UEFA Champions League Final.
Arda Turan
The 29 year old Istanbul, Turkey native Arda Turan is one of the most prominent Turkish players in history, and is characterized by his individual skills and field vision. Turan is further known for his charity work for sick children, and being featured on the cover of the Turkish FIFA 2015 video game.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The multi-ethnic Zlatan Ibrahimović was born in 1981 in Sweden to a Muslim Bosniak father and a Croatian Catholic mother of part Albanian descent. Joining Paris-Saint Germain in 2012, the striker became the club’s all time leading scorer in 2016. He published a best-selling autobiography, “I am Zlatan” in 2011.
Xherdan Shaqiri
Xerdan Shaqiri was born in 1991 in Gjilan, Kosovo. The midfielder for Stoke City immigrated to Switzerland in 1992 with his family. According to FIFA’s website, he is “unpredictable on the ball, adept with both feet, clinical in front of goal and possesses excellent vision”. He is also nicknamed "the Alpine Messi.”.
Hakan Calhanoglu
Hakan Çalhanoğlu is an attacking midfielder for the Turkish team and the German club Bayer Leverkusen. Born in Germany in 1994, the 22 year old chooses to play for Turkey-his ancestral homeland-over his native Germany. One of the best free kickers in the world, he’s at times compared to Mesut Özil, another German of Turkish descent.

You may also like

Subscribe

Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content
Subscribe Now
Loading content ...