CAIRO – As Brazil prepares to host FIFA World Cup football tournament that would run from June 12 to July 13, 2014, dozens of Muslim players have been listed to take part in this summer’s international games.
Here are some of the names of Muslim stars participating in the international tournament. This is aimed to be presented in a series, so we will have other names in the next batch.
Episode II: Black Muslim Stars to Shine in Brazil 2014
Episode III: Muslim Players in Brazil World Cup
Edin Džeko
Born in March 1986 in Bosnia’s Sarajevo, the Manchester City striker has began his career as a midfielder in the youth team of Željezničar where he was recognized as one of the most talented boys in the blue team.
In November 2009, Džeko became Bosnia’s first UNICEF ambassador.
The Bosnian footballer was named top scorer of Group G in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers as his 10 goals granted his country Bosnia qualification for the first time in history to the FIFA World Cup (Brazil 2014).
Dzeko will play for Bosnia in the World Cup 2014.
Mesut Özil
Mesut Özil is a German footballer who plays for Premier League club Arsenal and the German national team. Özil has been a youth national team member since 2006, and a member of the German national team since 2009.
The 25-year-old talented player gained international attention during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was nominated for the Golden Ball Award, which is awarded to the tournament’s best player.
At the age of 24, Özil became the youngest sportsman to figure in the Berlin museum.
Sami Khedira
The Real Madrid midfielder, Sami Khedira, was named by Germany to play in World Cup 2014.
Born in April 1987, the German footballer is currently playing for Real Madrid and the German national team.
In 2010, the Muslim player moved from VFB Stuttgart to Real Madrid, signing a contract until 2015 with an undisclosed fee.
Karim Benzema
Playing for the Spanish Real Madrid and the French national football team, Karim Benzema, 26, was named as a forward player in the French squad travelling to Brazil 2014.
At the age of 19, the Muslim striker was ranked as top goal-scorer in all European leagues in 2007 with 11 goals so far.
He stole the limelight in 2005, when he made his first debut with the Lyonnais and scored a spectacular goal that gave him a foothold in the French national team at the age of 17.
Hailing from Algerian family, Benzema helped the Lyonnais maintain Ligue 1 title for 2005, 2006 and 2007.
His impressive performance at the UEFA Cup 2007 drew interests from European heavyweights Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC and Inter Milan.
Mamadou Sakho
Hailing form a Senegalese family, the 24-year-old Muslim defender will play for the French world Cup squad.
The French footballer plays as a central defender for Premier League club Liverpool and the French national team.
In 2003, Sakho started his professional career after joining club Paris Saint-Germain, at the age of 12.
By 2007, the French defender signed his first professional three-year contract. In the same year he made his first league debut against Valeciennes in a 0–0 draw, becoming the youngest player ever to captain a Ligue 1 club.