Footiehound

Top 8 Muslim Football Players In Serie A (2024/2025 Season)

• Ken Anucha
• August 16, 2024

Here is a list of the top eight Muslim football players who are currently playing In the Serie A:

Player Name	Position	Club	Nationality
Ismael Bennacer	Midfielder	AC Milan	Algeria
Sofyan Amrabat	Midfielder	Fiorentina	Morocco
Adam Masina	Defender	Torino	Morocco
Amir Rrahmani	Defender	Napoli	Kosovo
Paul Pogba	Midfielder	Juventus	France
Sead Kolasinac	Defender	Atalanta	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hakan Çalhanoğlu	Midfielder	Inter Milan	Turkey
Mohamed Fares	Defender	Lazio	Algeria

READ ALSO: Top 7 Players Who Have Won The Most Ligue 1 Titles

1. Ismael Bennacer (AC Milan)

Ismaël Bennacer is one of the top Muslim football players in Serie A, playing as a defensive midfielder for AC Milan. He was born on December 1, 1997, in Arles, France. Bennacer has a multicultural background, with his father being Moroccan and his mother being Algerian.

However, Bennacer started his football career at a young age, playing for AC Arles in France. In 2015, he joined Arsenal’s youth academy in England. He made his first senior appearance for Arsenal in a League Cup match in October 2015.

Yet, he didn’t get enough chances to play, so he was loaned to Tours, a club in Ligue 2, early in 2017. His time at Tours was successful, and this led to a transfer to Empoli in August 2017.

At Empoli, Bennacer played a big part in helping the team win the Serie B title and get promoted to Serie A, Italy’s top football league. His performances caught the attention of bigger clubs, and in August 2019, he signed with AC Milan for a reported fee of €16 million.

At Milan, Bennacer became an important player. He is known for his dynamic playing style, strong technical skills, and ability to play in different midfield positions. His contributions have been integral to AC Milan’s recent success in Serie A.

Internationally, Bennacer first played for France at youth levels but decided to represent Algeria in 2016. He was a key player for Algeria when they won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where he was named the tournament’s Best Player and Best Young Player. Bennacer is now seen as one of the most promising midfielders in European football.

2. Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina)

Sofyan Amrabat is one of the top Muslim football players in Serie A. Born on August 21, 1996, in Huizen, Netherlands, he is of Moroccan descent and plays as a defensive midfielder.

Amrabat began his football career, by joining the youth team of HSV e Zuidvogels. He later moved to FC Utrecht, where he made his debut in the first team in November 2014.

Over the next three years, Amrabat played 54 matches for FC Utrecht. In 2017, Amrabat joined Feyenoord, one of the top clubs in the Netherlands. After a year, he moved to Club Brugge in Belgium.

However, his breakthrough came during a loan spell at Hellas Verona in Italy during the 2019-2020 season. His strong performances there led to a permanent transfer to Fiorentina in January 2020.

At Fiorentina, Amrabat continued to impress as a key player in midfield, known for his ability to read the game, his physical strength, and his skill in stopping the opposition’s attacks.

In September 2023, Amrabat took a big step in his career by joining Manchester United on a season-long loan. This move was seen as an achievement to show his growing reputation in European football.

Amrabat has played for both the Netherlands and Morocco at different youth levels but chose to represent Morocco’s senior national team. Since his debut for Morocco in 2017, he has earned over 50 caps.

He played a part in helping Morocco reach the semifinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which is a historic achievement for the team. His tactical awareness and defensive skills make him a valuable player on any team he joins.

READ ALSO: Top 7 Football Players Who Have Won The Most Bundesliga Titles

3. Adam Masina (Torino)

Adam Masina, one of the top Muslim football players currently in Italy’s Serie A plays for Torino. He was born on January 2, 1994, in Khouribga, Morocco. At the moment, he is on loan from Udinese, another Serie A team.

Adam’s football career began in Bologna. He joined their youth academy when he was just 11 years old, and worked his way up to make his first-team debut for Bologna in 2014.

During his time In Bologna, he helped the team get promoted to Serie A and scored his first goal in the top league not long after. In July 2018, Adam moved to Watford in the English Premier League.

His time at Watford was a mix of starting games and sitting on the bench. He returned to Italy in 2022, joining Udinese. In February 2024, he went on loan to Torino, where he continues to play. Adam Masina has also had a notable international career.

He started by playing for Italy’s U21 team but decided to represent Morocco in 2021. Then he made his debut for the Morocco national team during the African Cup of Nations qualifiers. Adam’s life story is inspiring.

After losing his mother shortly after he was born, he faced tough times growing up in Italy. His father struggled with alcoholism, and Adam spent some time in foster care.

He was later adopted by a loving family. This difficult start to life helped Adam’s strong character and determination, both on and off the pitch.

4. Amir Rrahmani (Napoli)

Amir Kadri Rrahmani is one of the best Muslim football players currently playing In Serie A as a center-back for Napoli. He was born on February 24, 1994, in Pristina, Kosovo. Besides playing for Napoli, he is also the captain of the Kosovo national team.

Rrahmani’s journey in football began when he played for KF Drenica as a youth. His skills quickly got noticed, and he moved to Partizani Tirana, where he made a big impact. In 2015, he moved to the Croatian club RNK Split.

His excellent performances there earned him a place in the Team of the Week multiple times. Rrahmani started his international career with the Albanian national team and made his debut in 2014. However, he later decided to play for Kosovo, his homeland.

His first game for Kosovo was a friendly match against Senegal in 2014. Since then, he has been a key player for Kosovo, helping the team in different international competitions. In 2020, Rrahmani joined Napoli.

At 6 feet 4 inches tall, he is known for his strength in the air and solid defensive skills. His leadership qualities make him an important player both on and off the field.

5. Paul Pogba (Juventus)

Paul Labile Pogba, born on March 15, 1993, in Lagny-sur-Marne, France, is one of the top Muslim football players in Serie A. Pogba is known for his incredible skills as a midfielder.

He currently plays for Juventus in Serie A and the France national team, though he is serving a doping ban. Pogba started playing football when he was very young. He joined local clubs and then moved to the youth academy of Le Havre in 2007.

His talent got noticed, and in 2009, he signed with Manchester United, before signing for Juventus in 2012. At Juventus, Pogba impressed, helping the team win four Serie A titles in a row.

He also received several awards, such as the Golden Boy Award in 2013 and the Bravo Award in 2014. His success in Italy led to a big move back to Manchester United in 2016 for a record fee of €105 million.

On the international stage, Pogba has been very important for France. He captained the U-20 team to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2013. Later, he was a key player for the senior team when they won the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In that tournament, Pogba even scored a goal in the final against Croatia.

Despite some ups and downs in his career, including disagreements with former manager José Mourinho, Pogba remains one of the best footballers of his generation. He has played 91 times for France and has scored 11 goals.

6. Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta)

Sead Kolašinac is one of the top Muslim football players currently playing in Serie A. Born on June 20, 1993, in Karlsruhe, Germany, Kolašinac plays as a center-back for Atalanta and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

He started his career at Schalke 04, a German club, where he played for the reserve team before moving up to the first team. His strong performances caught the attention of Arsenal. In 2017, Kolašinac signed a five-year contract with Arsenal.

At Arsenal, Kolašinac became known for his physical strength and ability to play in different positions. While he mainly played as a left-back, he was also used as a defensive midfielder and center-back when needed.

In 2021, Kolašinac went back to Schalke on loan, and in 2022, he moved to Olympique de Marseille, a French club. His journey continued in July 2023, when he signed a two-year deal with Atalanta, returning to one of Europe’s top leagues.

Kolašinac made his debut for Atalanta in a match against Sassuolo and scored his first goal for the club on October 8, 2023, in a game against Lazio.

His time at Atalanta has already been successful, as he helped the team win the UEFA Europa League in May 2024. Internationally, Kolašinac first played for Germany’s youth teams but later decided to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He made his senior debut for Bosnia in 2013 and played in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Bosnia’s first appearance in a major tournament. Off the field, Kolašinac is a practicing Muslim, known for his commitment to his faith, community, and family.

READ ALSO: Top 10 Best Countries In The Game Of Soccer

7. Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter Milan)

Hakan Çalhanoğlu, born on February 8, 1994, in Mannheim, Germany, is a Turkish footballer. He plays as an attacking midfielder for Inter Milan in Serie A. Also, he is the captain of the Turkey national team.

Çalhanoğlu is known for his amazing free-kick abilities, which have made him one of the best set-piece takers in Europe. However, Çalhanoğlu’s professional football career began in 2010 when he made his debut for Karlsruher SC, a club in Germany.

In 2013, he moved to Hamburger SV and then joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2014 for €14.5 million. During his time at Bayer Leverkusen, he scored 28 goals in 115 appearances.

In 2017, he signed with AC Milan, and he played for four seasons and became an important player for the team. In 2021, Çalhanoğlu made a big move to Inter Milan on a free transfer to continue his successful career in Serie A.

Çalhanoğlu has represented Turkey on the International stage at different youth levels and made his senior debut in 2013. He has played in different UEFA European Championships, including those in 2016, 2020, and 2024. His leadership and technical skills have made him a key player for Turkey.

Outside of football, Çalhanoğlu is married to Sinem Gündoğdu, and they have three children together. Football runs in his family, with his brother Muhammed and cousin Kerim also being footballers.

8. Mohamed Fares (Lazio)

Mohamed Salim Farès, born on February 15, 1996, in Aubervilliers, France, is a professional footballer known for his skills as a left wing-back or left winger. He currently plays for Brescia in Serie B, which is the second tier of Italian football.

However, he is on loan from Lazio, a Serie A club. In addition to his club career, Farès is a member of the Algeria national team. Farès started his professional career with Hellas Verona, joining the team in January 2013 after leaving Girondins de Bordeaux.

He made his debut in Serie A, the top tier of Italian football, in December 2014. His talent was recognized, and in June 2018, he moved to SPAL on loan. SPAL was so impressed with his performances that they signed him permanently in July 2019.

His consistent displays at SPAL caught the attention of Lazio, and in October 2020, he signed a five-year contract with them. Despite this, Farès spent much of his time on loan to other clubs, including Genoa and Torino.

Unfortunately, his time at Torino was cut short due to an injury shortly after joining the team. In September 2023, Farès was loaned to Brescia for the 2023-24 season. Farès has been representing Algeria since 2017.

He has played in many matches, including in the Africa Cup of Nations, where he has been an important part of the team, even though he hasn’t scored any goals for the national side.