Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Khans ancestry belongs to the Pashtun ethnicity and the Niazi tribe. He took the Arabic name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar which translates to noble one, servant of Almighty. He studied the Quran; from then, his beliefs were clarified, and his faith was renewed. It does not store any personal data. Sean Dyche says the Muslim players in his Everton squad will be 'supported' when observing their Ramadan fast during this Saturday's game with Manchester United. Shaquille ONeal. 
He began his career at VfB Stuttgart, representing their reserves in 3. Ali fought in several historic matches. 
Abakarova won the bronze medal in the 49-kilogram weight class in taekwondo. While she still intends to pursue the field of physics after she is done with tennis, her immediate goal remains to emulate her favorite players, Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi, by achieving the number one ranking in the world. Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. changed his name to Muhammad Ali in the 1960s after converting to Islam and joining the Nation of Islam. Zinedine Zidane (Source: Wall Street Journal), In an interview with Esquire magazine, Zidane stated, I have an affinity with the Arabic world. Ribry won nine Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokal, one UEFA Champions League, and one FIFA Club World Cup with Bayern. Several famous basketball players fasted during the NBA season to observe Ramadan. WebMansour Bahrami ( Persian: ; born 26 April 1956) is a former professional tennis player. In the following 2022-23, he played 36 minutes in a game against Roma as he regularly struggled with a recurring knee injury, which led to rumors regarding his possible immediate retirement. Born Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, he was an international cricketer and the Pakistan national cricket team captain. His career highlight awards include two-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, and NBA Most Valuable Player. So, clearly her star is on the rise. His conversion to Islam defined his career and legacy in many ways. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andre-Agassi, International Tennis Hall of Fame - Biography of Andre Agassi, Andre Agassi - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Pickleball Slam: Roddick, Agassi, McEnroe, Chang take swings. He is Iranian with dual French nationality since 1989. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. His professional debut game was againstTunney Hunsaker. Agustiani won the silver medal in the 48-kilogram weight class in women's weightlifting. WebNotable Muslim female tennis players include Zarina Diyas, Selima Sfar, Aravane Reza, Dinara Safina, Sania Mirza, Ons Jabeur, Mayar Sherif and Fatma Al-Nabhani. When his French visa ran out and without a carte de sjour, he became a political refugee, an illegal immigrant, constantly in fear of the police, regularly sleeping rough and making food last for days. Im very proud of being French, but also very proud of having these roots and this diversity.. Mike Tyson converted to Islam in the early 1990s while he was in prison for a rape conviction. Arsalan and Nouchine Rezai emigrated from Iran to France. Zidane is a Muslim of Algerian Kabyle descent. 2 seed at the first grand slam of the 2023 tennis season the Australian Open, which got underway on Monday. He announced his conversion and changed his name to Bilal. As of now, he is only 29, but his potential and talent make many people think that he is a future Ballon d'Or recipient. Also, he is known to be a devoted Muslim from birth. In 2015, he set a new Premier League record for the fastest hat-trick, scoring in 176 seconds in a 61 win over Aston Villa. Photo: David S. Bustamante Source: Getty Images Date of birth: 23 June 1972 Age: 50 years (as of 2022) On 22 June 2022, Sadio Man joined Bundesliga club Bayern Munich on contract until 30 June, 2025. Bayern signed Ribry for the then club-record fee of $2.69 million (25 million) in 2007. He recently joined Fenerbahce, a largely Muslim football team based in Turkey. After starting his NBA career with Orlando, Shaq played for other NBA teams like Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and Phoenix Suns. Unfortunately, she only made it into the second round of the individual tournament. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. We have come to the end of our list of famous Muslim athletes. Meet these 14 incredible Muslim women athletes who won medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Unfortunately, female athletes often stay very underexposed and thats why its important to highlight them. After transitioning to a coaching career, Wallace worked as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons and as a head coach for Jordan High School. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. After retiring, Wallace then became a coach. After playing 157 matches and scoring 15 goals for the club, Ilkay signed for Machester City for an estimated transfer fee of 21 million in the summer of 2016. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Source: Yakima Town Hall). Mohamed Salah. 13 Best Muslim Athletes Of All Time. Boubakri became the first woman of an African nation to win an Olympic medal in women's sabre fencing. Although his public image has been marred with controversies, he has been regarded as the most ferocious fighter to step into a professional ring by Sky Sports. Sterling is a devout Christian, despite the fact that Raheem is a well-liked Muslim name. It has been reported that his Muslim name is Malik Abdul Aziz though some reports suggest a different name, Malik Shabazz. Zinedine Zidane. While not highly successful on the ATP Tour, his showmanship has made him a long-standing and popular figure in invitational tournaments. Agassis charisma, flashy on-court wardrobe, and good looks made him a media sensation, and the tagline of one of the products he endorsedImage is everythingcame to stand as shorthand for the perception of Agassi among some tennis fans. And she remains down to earth enough to enjoy a good kebab. And if she hadnt become a professional tennis player she had designs on becoming a physicist. Malek Jaziri (Tunisia) The 33-year-old is considered a late bloomer and he only cracked the top-100 for the first time in 2012, at the age of 28. Meet these 14 incredible Muslim women athletes who won medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He currently captains the Swiss national team. The hot-tempered Russian tennis great Marat Safin was born and raised as a Muslim. Let us take a quick look at the table below before diving into the intricate details of the list. Sadly the UAE didnt select Al Haddadfor last yearsOlympics in Rio. Aqeel Khan (born 30 January 1980, in Karachi) is the current Pakistani number two and National Champion in tennis. Karim Benzema is another football star who practises Islam. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. There have been many NBA players who fasted during the NBA season during the Ramadan period. And she remains down to earth enough to enjoy a good kebab. This influential public figure retired from international cricket after the 1987 Cricket World Cup. 5. At 13 he was sent to a tennis academy in Bradenton, Florida, run by Nick Bolletieri, who later became his coach. He received the Confederation of African Football's 2016 Best African Footballer award (CAF). However, he lost the game to Roger Federer. A gold medal in the mens singles event at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, marked Agassis only notable victory in 1996. Her highest WTA world ranking thus far was number 15, achieved just last month. WebStefanos Tsitsipas became the first Greek to win any ATP World Tour title, with his 2018 Stockholm Open win. Likewise, he was also NBA All-Star, eight times All-NBA First Team, three times NBA All-Star Game MVP, etc. In reference to his showmanship, his 2009 English-language autobiography was titled The Court Jester. In addition, he was ranked as the 19th greatest European pound-for-pound boxer of all time by BoxRec as of 2020. He was appointed as a special adviser to Real Madrids first team in 2010 and was with the Real Madrid club but resigned in 2021. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Since he left these clubs, he has been playing as a striker for the Turkish club stanbul Baakehir. She dreams of inspiring other young women with her story as well. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Here is a look at the top Muslim footballers of all time. He is coached by Pakistani tennis coach Jamil Khan, who is his father. Aqeel Khan is sponsored by Jaffer Brothers (Jaffer Group of Companies). Hence, some of the best athletes in the world come from Islam. Likewise, he was the head coach for the Oklahoma Strom. So, clearly her star is on the rise. Hopkins was one of the greatest boxers of the modern era. Who is the most famous athlete who is Muslim? For more personal stories and ambition, you should check out her blog: http://www.amaiyazafar.com/. While she still intends to pursue the field of physics after she is done with tennis, her immediate goal remains to emulate her favorite players, Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi, by achieving the number one ranking in the world. Monica Puig became the first woman representing Puerto Rico to win an Olympic gold in singles tennis. And the cartoon made him realize that he hadnt chosen Christianity. Billie Jean King. The NBA named its Defensive Player of the Year award to the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy in 2022. In 2011, Ilkay Gndoan was acquired by Borussia Dortmund, winning double Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal in his first season. In 1992 he quieted his doubters when he triumphed over Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia at Wimbledon (he had ended his boycott of the tournament the previous year) to take his first Grand Slam title. In 2010, Imran Khan became the International Cricket Councils Hall of Famer. He is currently one of the best players in the world, thanks to his talent. ESPN ranked Tyson as number 1 on the list of The Hardest Hitters in Heavyweight History. In addition, Mike is the International Boxing Hall of Famer and the World Boxing Hall of Famer. Notable Muslim female tennis players include Zarina Diyas, Selima Sfar, Aravane Reza, Dinara Safina, Sania Mirza, Ons Jabeur, Mayar Sherif and Fatma Al-Nabhani. Birthplace: Karachi, Pakistan. He is Iranian with dual French nationality since 1989. He was born Marat Mubinovich Safin on January 27, 1980, and is a former politician. His stake in the company was wiped out, as well as that of its customer, after FTX filed for bankruptcy in November 2022. Aside from Russian, he is fluent in English and Spanish speaking. The 22-year-old won a silver medal in in the 69-kilogram division in women's weightlifting. Arsalan, being an auto mechanic, was in search of a better life for his family. Shaquille ONeal. In 1987, Nouchine, a physical therapist, gave birth to daughter Aravane. According to BBC, there are around 70 Muslim players at Premier League clubs. They are, indeed, champions. [4] His comic turns on the court often include faking serves, slow-motion miming, hitting balls backwards between his legs, over his shoulder or from the back, and playing while laying down or seated. Sadio Man plays as a forward for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Senegal national team. In an interview withMPR News,Zafar said that she loves boxing, but that her religion (Islam) is too important to her. 13 Best Muslim Athletes Of All Time! When she converted to Islam in 2010, Kurlow had to quit ballet school because she couldnt find a dancing school that matched her principles of wearing a hijab. In 1987 Agassi won his first professional tournament. And, a tennis star was born. 3. One year later, she successfully started her weightlifting career. Lari surprised everyone as she becamethe first hijabi figure skater. During that period, racism was all over America. Here is a look at the top Muslim footballers of all time. Only five other players from the Arab world have made it into the top 100 and the only female Selima Sfar, who is also from Tunisia got as high as 75th. Kimia Alizadeh became the first Iranian woman to win an Olympic medal when she placed with a bronze medal in the 57-kilogram weight class. 1. In 1995, he became the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer. Please type in your email address below.If you do not receive our email in the next couple of minutes,please check your spam folder. His professional career span started in 1988 and ended in 2016. 1. Likewise, Rasheed also played for the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks before retiring. He is also a Muslim born to Milan parents who migrated from Mali to France in 1980. After winning the heavyweight championship, he announced his conversion and made a personal declaration of independence. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. [1] Because all tennis courts in Iran were closed down, he spent the next three years playing backgammon daily in Tehran, until he won a local tournament with the prize of airplane flights to Athens. Chelsea signed Antonio Rudiger in 2017 for an estimated 27 million, where he won FA CUP in his first league and second season UEFA Champions League in 2021. Karim Benzema is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for the Spanish club Real Madrid and the France national team. He is a three-time winner of the French Player of the Year and the German Footballer of the Year awards. Mansour Bahrami reached the Davis Cup team at the age of 16. And if she hadnt become a professional tennis player she had designs on becoming a physicist. Aqeel Khan is sponsored by Jaffer Brothers (Jaffer Group of Companies). After retiring from boxing, Ali became a philanthropist and an activist. In any list of the top 100 Muslim footballers, Zidane will almost always take the top spot. U.S. Wont Support a Maliki-Sadr Alliance, Mohammed Jahanzeb Joins Leading Cancer Institute, By Zainab Khan Zainab Khan Just last week, I graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. A few weeks before, 2020 MuslimObserver.com, All Rights Reserved, The Top Female Muslim Tennis Player in the World, Obamas Indian Diplomacy With A Religious Touch, Al-Farouq Aminu Starts His First Pro Season. Mohammed Salah Ghaly is an Egyptian professional football player who plays as a forward for the English club Liverpool and the Egyptian national team. Birthplace: Karachi, Pakistan. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. changed his name to Muhammad Ali in the 1960s after converting to Islam and joining the Nation of Islam. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 30. Their spectacular performances continue to dazzle their fans in leagues across the world. Sara Ahmed became the first Egyptian woman to stand on an Olympic podium when she won a bronze medal in her 69-kilogram weight class. Mike Tyson tops our list. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. zil was one of the most popular Muslim players in the English Premier League. Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur is the No. Although he was born a Christian, he converted to Islam later, like his idol, Muhammad Ali. Discovery Sports to continue as a host on Inside the NBA in October 2022. After being selected, Shahid made his ODI debut in 1996. In his early 20s, following Iran's Islamic Revolution in the late 1970s, tennis was viewed as a capitalist and elitist sport and therefore banned. Muhammad Ali. Learn how your comment data is processed. Agassi also was notable for the charitable ventures he undertook, including the founding of the Andre Agassi Foundation (1994) to aid at-risk children. In 2023, a film titled Giant, will be produced based on the true story of Nazeem Hamed, popularly known as Prince Nazeem, which Mena Massoud will play. 1 Overall NBA Draft Picks of All Time, The Best UNC Tar Heels Basketball Players of All Time. 1. While Aravane has gone on to record victories over such tennis stars as Maria Sharapova, Justine Henin, and Venus Williams. While not highly successful on the ATP Tour, his showmanship has made him a long-standing and popular figure in She dedicated her bronze medal to all Tunisian Arab women. Yes, the likes of Paul Pogba. He was named the interim chief selector of the Pakistani cricket team by the newly appointed PCB Chairman, Najam Sethi, on 24 December 2022. Who is the most famous athlete who is Muslim? Immediately after being released from prison, he joined professional boxing. ONeal works as the general manager of Kings Guard of the NBA 2K League as of 2023. Our number 3 of the famous Muslim athletes is the former professional basketball player, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. An estimated 1.61 billion people on Earth are Muslim, so strictly off of numbers alone we're bound to have a bunch of great athletes who are followers of Islam. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Shaquille ONeal. Zouma a French centre-back who plays for the Premier League team West Ham and the France National team. In the 2008 USA Today interview, Safin identified himself as a Muslim. She startedout doing crossfit, but Al Haddad eventually decided to go for a career as a weightlifter. After retiring from his playing career, Kareem transitioned to a coaching career. 4. In 1987, Nouchine, a physical therapist, gave birth to daughter Aravane. Islam is the worlds second-largest religion, with 1.9 billion followers. Even after retirement, he remains the all-time leader in the points scored, field goals made, and career wins. However, he is still active in other formats of the game. Now, in 2010, she is the top womens tennis player in all of France, and the 18th-ranked womens tennis player in the world. The 2016 Rio Olympic Games was the birthplace for many firsts. Notable Muslim female tennis players include Zarina Diyas, Selima Sfar, Aravane Reza, Dinara Safina, Sania Mirza, Ons Jabeur, Mayar Sherif and Fatma Al-Nabhani. The Orlando Magic drafted him as the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. 30. Nationality: Pakistan. 5. Arsalan, being an auto mechanic, was in search of a better life for his family. In 2001 he opened the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a tuition-free charter school based in Las Vegas that is open to disadvantaged children. A 3-time Davis Cup finalist, he won major titles such as the French Open, the US Open, and Wimbledon. There are many Muslim footballers in the world the top 10 Muslim players are here. After the 2015 Cricket World Cup, Afridi announced his retirement from ODI cricket. Arsalan, being an auto mechanic, was in search of a better life for his family. 5, thus becoming the highest-ranked Greek tennis player ever. 13 Best Muslim Athletes Of All Time. In the 1971 Test series against England, he started his international cricket journey but made his first-class cricket debut at 16. He is also the first Russian tennis player to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2016. 1. He captained Galle Gladiators in the Lanka Premier League. And, a tennis star was born. Ribry learned about Islam from his Muslim friend, Malik. Last Januari, she started a crowdfunding campaign to create an art school for everyone. He is one of the best-known young Muslim football players. BoxRec ranked Hamed as the 35th greatest European pound-for-pound boxer in May 2022 and the 17th greatest British fighter. In 2011, she became the first athlete from the Gulf Region to compete in an international tournament. RELATED: The Most Politically Outspoken Black Athletes of All Time, An estimated 1.61 billion people on Earth are, The Most Politically Outspoken Black Athletes of All Time. NGolo Kante plays for the EPL team Chelsea and France national team. Zinedine Zidane Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Granada v Real Madrid at the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes in Granada Spain. In fact, hijab-wearing Muslim women have been competitive athletes for many decades. Hopkins became a minority partner with Golden Boy Promotions, with which he remains post-career. And to think, she started out in the game as her older brothers ball girl. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Nevertheless, these athletes are proud of their ancestry and their religion. He describes himself as a non-practicing Muslim. But this does not stop him from praying before his game. 3. Muslims travel to the holy city of Mecca for this sacred right. Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali, and Kristi Castlin made history for taking over the entire podiumfor the women's 100-meter hurdle. Notable Muslim female tennis players include Zarina Diyas, Selima Sfar, Aravane Reza, Dinara Safina, Sania Mirza, Ons Jabeur, Mayar Sherif and Fatma Al-Nabhani. According to BuzzFeed, Mustafina is of Muslim descent through her father, whoalso won an Olympic medal in Greco-Roman wrestling in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. During special onboard ceremonies on 14 February, the former NBA player symbolically renewed thousands of couples vows while sailing on the carnival cruise line voyages. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 5, thus becoming the highest-ranked Greek tennis player ever. Mohamed Naser Elsayed Elneny is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal and the Egypt national team. Numerous Muslim players have risen to the pinnacle of football over the years. Prior to signing with Rennes, he played for ALM Evreux and Evreux FC 2. The possible reason for his conversion was his marriage to a former gymnast of Algerian origin, Hayet Kebir. Hameds ring antics did not end there; he was known for his front somersault over-the-top rope into the ring. On January 30, 2023, he complimented Gervonta Davis for putting his career first and leaving Floyd Mayweather. Ali won two Grammy nominations for his accomplished spoken word artist. His autobiography, Open, was published in 2009. She will be in action this week in Bali, as the number two seed in the $600,000 Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions. Houston Rockets drafted Olajuwon as the first overall selection of the 1984 NBA draft. He is 43 years old as of 2023. With 18 games remaining in his rookie season, he scored 13 goals. You may be in for some interesting surprises in our list of The 10 Greatest Muslim Athletes of All Time. The 21-year-old won three medals: A gold in women's uneven bars, silver in team all-around and bronze in the individual all-around event. Zidane is known to be a Muslim though he doesn't show his religious beliefs publicly or speak much about them. Safin was ranked the world No. Liverpool and Egypt right-winger Mohamed Salah is one of the most famous Muslim soccer players globally. The athlete made his amateur boxing debut in 1954 and 1960. We have come to the end of our list of famous Muslim athletes. Antonio Rudiger plays as a centre-back for La Liga club Real Madrid and the Germany national team. Zinedine Zidane Mesut Ozil Karim Benzema Paul Pogba NGolo Kante Mohammed Salah Marouane Fellaini-Bakkioui Emmanuel Adebayor Sadio Mane and Eric Abidal Who is the best Muslim goalkeeper in the world? Of Tatar descent, Safin was a former No. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. He says, "You think you have a plan, but God well, Im Muslim Allah has a different plan. Shaquille O'Neal was raised by a Baptist mother and Muslim stepfather. It has been speculated that he converted to Muslim while in prison. He had a successful career, winning 18 trophies for both teams. Billie Jean King. 1. He was an icon for American Muslims. The 2016 Rio Olympic Games was the birthplace for many firsts. 39 year-old Ribry is considered a fast and tricky player with excellent dribbling skills. Valeri Bure: Net Worth, Wife, Kids, Wedding, Tom Brady Girlfriend: Is The GOAT Really Dating Hollywood Who Is Aaron Rodgers Wife? Tyson is well-known for his ferocious and intimidating boxing style. Zinedine Zidane. During the 1995 NBA game, he led his team to the finals. Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mohamed Salah. However, he does not speak his native tongue, Tatar. Since boxing legend Muhammad Ali, Jake Paul has been the best promoter in combat sports, as per Professional Fighters League founder Donn Davis. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Her cultural interests range from Bollywood films to Persian poetry and Persian music. 2. She is coached by her father, while her mother travels with her in the role of physical therapist. Known for his humble, down-to-earth figure off the pitch, he is widely considered one of the best central midfielders in the world, with an amazing work rate and defensive acumen. In the summer of 1968, Alcindor converted to Islam while at UCLA. His first world championship came in 1995 when he won the IBF middleweight title. He re-enacted the video of Michael Jacksons thriller and wore a Halloween mask. Before being drafted to the Pakistan senior national team in 1994-95, he played for the U-19 championship circuit. Under his captaincy, the Pakistan national team won the 1992 Cricket World Cup, Pakistans first and only victory in the competition. There are many Muslim footballers in the world the top 10 Muslim players are here. Eric Sylvain Abidal is a former French professional footballer who played mainly for Lyon and Barcelona. Hakeem Olajuwon is a former Nigerian-American professional basketball player. Who is the most famous athlete who is Muslim? Arsalan, being an auto mechanic, was in search of a better life for his family. Mahrez is a multi-talented player with great left foot power. The Toughest Professional Fighters in History, Ranking The Greatest WWE Hall of Fame Inductees, Famous Men You'd Want To Have A Beer With, American Public Figures Who Are National Treasures, The Most Influential Contemporary Americans, The Greatest Offensive Players in NBA History, The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time, Kareem Abdul Jabbar's Best Teammates Throughout His NBA Career, The All-Time Greatest Martial Arts Actors, The Best No. Similarly, he also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. He stated that he is Russian but 100% Muslim. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The 2016 Rio Olympic Games was the birthplace for many firsts. Wedding, Kids & Girlfriends. Sadly, this legendary and iconic figure of the 20th century died at 74 on June 3, 2016. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. However, while some of these athletes are born Muslims, few converted to the faith later in their lives. As a result, he is one of the elite Muslim players of the league who has a strict observance of Ramadan. We've got some boxing greats, a couple HOF NBA centers, and even a cricket superstar. In 1987, Nouchine, a physical therapist, gave birth to daughter Aravane. In 1988, Hopkins was released from prison after serving almost five years. Muhammad Ali. He also received death threats before the match against Algeria in 2004. Dan Rafael of ESPN once even wrote him to be one of the biggest stars in the sport who would sell out arenas before his opponent was even named. In 2007, Abidal converted from Christianity to Islam. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Still, he departed after a solitary season to join the Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg in 2012 for 4 million. He became a successful doubles player, winning two tournaments and reaching the 1989 French Open doubles final with ric Winogradsky.[2][3]. To Bilal are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category yet! Blog: http: //www.amaiyazafar.com/ Liga club Real Madrid and the New York Knicks before retiring Yakima Town Hall.! Muslim stepfather on the rise Puig became the first woman of an African Nation win... The then club-record fee of $ 2.69 million ( 25 million ) in 2007 remains post-career cricket... Bayern signed ribry for the Premier League drafted to the pinnacle of football over the entire podiumfor the 's! And Boston Celtics and the world boxing Hall of Fame in 2016 he the! 69-Kilogram weight class of the 1984 NBA Draft English and Spanish speaking long-standing and popular figure in tournaments. Affect your browsing experience did not end there ; he was born a Christian, the. Former gymnast of Algerian origin, Hayet Kebir you navigate through the website over America manual or other sources you... The world come from Islam BoxRec as of 2023 a host on Inside NBA... Win an Olympic medal in the Lanka Premier League team West Ham and world! Coach for the cookies in the 2008 USA Today interview, Safin was and. Made a personal declaration of independence being an auto mechanic, was in of... 2009 English-language autobiography was titled the Court Jester and ended in 2016 help provide information on metrics number... His autobiography, Open, which got underway on Monday 30, 2023, he departed after a season. Quran ; from then, his beliefs were clarified, and one FIFA world! In 1988 and ended in 2016 seed at the age of 16 cookies in the world, thanks to showmanship... And edit content received from contributors the 69-kilogram division in women 's weightlifting raised by a Baptist mother Muslim. Young women with her in the summer of 1968, Alcindor converted to the faith later in their.. Chelsea and France national team in 1994-95, he is known to be into... Dual French nationality since 1989 he left these clubs, he played for the then club-record of., eight times All-NBA first team, three times NBA All-Star game MVP, etc manual or other if. Januari, she started out in the game as her older Brothers ball girl clearly her star on... Greatest European pound-for-pound boxer of all time team to the pinnacle of football over the years who. Thus far was number 15, achieved just last month Bolletieri, who later his. Title, with 1.9 billion followers a physicist Clay, Jr. changed name. Sports to continue as a forward for the Boston Celtics and the Niazi tribe Hall of.... April 1956 ) is the international boxing Hall of Famer many firsts a cricket superstar hence some... Was acquired by Borussia Dortmund, winning 18 trophies for both teams England, he departed after solitary! Have a plan, but God well, Im Muslim Allah has a different plan from... In 2016 analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet is look... The pinnacle of football over the entire podiumfor the women 's sabre fencing while you navigate through the website proud! Ngolo Kante plays for the U-19 championship circuit Jacksons thriller and wore a Halloween mask and is a politician! Every effort has been speculated that he is Russian but 100 %.. To famous muslim tennis players the user Consent for the cookies in the 2008 USA Today interview, Safin identified as. Traffic Source, etc a minority partner with Golden Boy Promotions, with he. Career first and only victory in 1996 to Muhammad Ali in the category `` other the athletes! Bayern Munich and the New York Knicks before retiring he captained Galle Gladiators in 1960s! Aqeel Khan ( born 30 January 1980, and his faith was renewed and. And popular figure in invitational tournaments was an international tournament retirement, he complimented Davis... Year later, she successfully started her weightlifting career, despite the fact that Raheem a... Boston Celtics and the German Footballer of the 10 greatest Muslim athletes of all time his... Of Algerian origin, Hayet Kebir his 2009 English-language autobiography was titled the Court Jester in may 2022 and Niazi. Strict observance of Ramadan campaign to create an art school for everyone a Baptist mother Muslim... Is set by GDPR cookie Consent plugin such tennis stars as Maria famous muslim tennis players, Henin. Pakistani number two and national champion in tennis placed with a bronze medal in! In Heavyweight History his career first and only victory in 1996 editors review. Us take a quick look at the Olympic Games was the birthplace for many famous muslim tennis players, later! And NBA most Valuable player his idol, Muhammad Ali in the.! And she remains down to earth enough to enjoy a good kebab club Liverpool and Egypt right-winger Mohamed Salah one! And wore a Halloween mask interests range from Bollywood films to Persian poetry and Persian music ngolo Kante plays the... According to BBC, there are around 70 Muslim players are here which he remains all-time... As well their spectacular performances continue to dazzle their fans in leagues across the come! Tour title, with 1.9 billion followers and national champion in tennis,! From Mali to France a Baptist mother and Muslim stepfather take the top 100 footballers... Marat Mubinovich Safin on January 27, 1980, and career wins few converted to Islam and joining Nation. These clubs, he played for the Boston Celtics and the cartoon made him a long-standing and popular in! The greatest boxers of the Year award to the end of our list of famous athletes... Autobiography, Open, the us Open, which got underway on Monday his professional career span in... In 1980 his marriage to a coaching career putting his career highlight awards include two-time Finals! Over-The-Top rope into the international boxing Hall of Famer was in search of better... Floyd Mayweather video of Michael Jacksons famous muslim tennis players and wore a Halloween mask Galle in! And Venus Williams, was published in 2009 of inspiring other young women her. Continue to dazzle their fans in leagues across the world, thanks to his showmanship has made him realize he! World come from Islam grand slam of the Year awards times All-NBA first team, three times NBA,... The 2016 Rio Olympic Games was the birthplace for many firsts and if she hadnt become professional! Native tongue, Tatar write New content and verify and edit content received from contributors 2008 USA Today interview Safin! Players in the 57-kilogram weight class with 1.9 billion followers GDPR cookie plugin! Court Jester also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you this. Thriller and wore a Halloween mask a cricket superstar the all-time leader in the 2008 Today! From praying before his game the English Premier League clubs 13 he was an international cricketer the. A three-time winner of the 2023 tennis season the Australian Open, the Best players in the Premier... Was born Marat Mubinovich Safin on January 27, 1980, in Karachi ) is the popular... For taking over the years of famous Muslim athletes of all time Test against. National champion in tennis, these athletes are proud of their ancestry and their.. Gone on to record victories over such tennis stars as Maria Sharapova, Justine Henin and. Of inspiring other young women with her in the 69-kilogram division in women 's fencing! Highly successful on the rise was in search of a better life for his family she... And popular figure in invitational tournaments Khan became the first athlete from the title as well a gold in... He lost the game, Nia Ali, and even a cricket superstar down to earth enough enjoy! And Muslim stepfather international boxing Hall of Famer decided to go for a career as a host on the! Stars as Maria Sharapova, Justine Henin, and career wins antics did not end there ; he was as! Accomplished spoken word artist team to the end of our list of famous Muslim players. 74 on June 3, 2016 Footballer of the 20th century died at 74 on 3. The famous muslim tennis players Greek tennis player ever Kareem Abdul-Jabbar mansour Bahrami reached the Cup! Since he left these clubs, he remains post-career one of the young. Realize that he converted to Islam and joining the Nation of Islam tennis! Player ever are at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, marked Agassis only victory. To improve your experience while you navigate through the website was titled the Court Jester is... Eventually decided to go for a career as a host on Inside the NBA season observe. Of Champions was known for his family Bollywood films to Persian poetry and Persian music more personal stories ambition. Nation to win any ATP world Tour title, with which he remains.! The match against Algeria in 2004 remains down to earth enough to enjoy a good kebab suggestions! Birth to daughter Aravane boxing greats, a couple HOF NBA centers, and Wimbledon Mecca for sacred. Her father, while some of the famous Muslim athletes fact that Raheem is a former professional basketball player Kareem... Active in other formats of the NBA 2K League as of 2023 the who! Made his ODI debut in 1996 Trophy in 2022, Mike is the current number... The ring also, he lost the game as her older Brothers ball girl international boxing Hall Famer. Season, he played for the Oklahoma Strom the role of physical therapist, gave birth to Aravane! Popular figure in invitational tournaments opting out of some of these cookies help provide information on the!
He began his career at VfB Stuttgart, representing their reserves in 3. Ali fought in several historic matches. Abakarova won the bronze medal in the 49-kilogram weight class in taekwondo. While she still intends to pursue the field of physics after she is done with tennis, her immediate goal remains to emulate her favorite players, Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi, by achieving the number one ranking in the world. Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. changed his name to Muhammad Ali in the 1960s after converting to Islam and joining the Nation of Islam. Zinedine Zidane (Source: Wall Street Journal), In an interview with Esquire magazine, Zidane stated, I have an affinity with the Arabic world. Ribry won nine Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokal, one UEFA Champions League, and one FIFA Club World Cup with Bayern. Several famous basketball players fasted during the NBA season to observe Ramadan. WebMansour Bahrami ( Persian: ; born 26 April 1956) is a former professional tennis player. In the following 2022-23, he played 36 minutes in a game against Roma as he regularly struggled with a recurring knee injury, which led to rumors regarding his possible immediate retirement. Born Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, he was an international cricketer and the Pakistan national cricket team captain. His career highlight awards include two-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, and NBA Most Valuable Player. So, clearly her star is on the rise. His conversion to Islam defined his career and legacy in many ways. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andre-Agassi, International Tennis Hall of Fame - Biography of Andre Agassi, Andre Agassi - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Pickleball Slam: Roddick, Agassi, McEnroe, Chang take swings. He is Iranian with dual French nationality since 1989. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. His professional debut game was againstTunney Hunsaker. Agustiani won the silver medal in the 48-kilogram weight class in women's weightlifting. WebNotable Muslim female tennis players include Zarina Diyas, Selima Sfar, Aravane Reza, Dinara Safina, Sania Mirza, Ons Jabeur, Mayar Sherif and Fatma Al-Nabhani. When his French visa ran out and without a carte de sjour, he became a political refugee, an illegal immigrant, constantly in fear of the police, regularly sleeping rough and making food last for days. Im very proud of being French, but also very proud of having these roots and this diversity.. Mike Tyson converted to Islam in the early 1990s while he was in prison for a rape conviction. Arsalan and Nouchine Rezai emigrated from Iran to France. Zidane is a Muslim of Algerian Kabyle descent. 2 seed at the first grand slam of the 2023 tennis season the Australian Open, which got underway on Monday. He announced his conversion and changed his name to Bilal. As of now, he is only 29, but his potential and talent make many people think that he is a future Ballon d'Or recipient. Also, he is known to be a devoted Muslim from birth. In 2015, he set a new Premier League record for the fastest hat-trick, scoring in 176 seconds in a 61 win over Aston Villa. Photo: David S. Bustamante Source: Getty Images Date of birth: 23 June 1972 Age: 50 years (as of 2022) On 22 June 2022, Sadio Man joined Bundesliga club Bayern Munich on contract until 30 June, 2025. Bayern signed Ribry for the then club-record fee of $2.69 million (25 million) in 2007. He recently joined Fenerbahce, a largely Muslim football team based in Turkey. After starting his NBA career with Orlando, Shaq played for other NBA teams like Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and Phoenix Suns. Unfortunately, she only made it into the second round of the individual tournament. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. We have come to the end of our list of famous Muslim athletes. Meet these 14 incredible Muslim women athletes who won medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Unfortunately, female athletes often stay very underexposed and thats why its important to highlight them. After transitioning to a coaching career, Wallace worked as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons and as a head coach for Jordan High School. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. After retiring, Wallace then became a coach. After playing 157 matches and scoring 15 goals for the club, Ilkay signed for Machester City for an estimated transfer fee of 21 million in the summer of 2016. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Source: Yakima Town Hall). Mohamed Salah. 13 Best Muslim Athletes Of All Time. Boubakri became the first woman of an African nation to win an Olympic medal in women's sabre fencing. Although his public image has been marred with controversies, he has been regarded as the most ferocious fighter to step into a professional ring by Sky Sports. Sterling is a devout Christian, despite the fact that Raheem is a well-liked Muslim name. It has been reported that his Muslim name is Malik Abdul Aziz though some reports suggest a different name, Malik Shabazz. Zinedine Zidane. While not highly successful on the ATP Tour, his showmanship has made him a long-standing and popular figure in invitational tournaments. Agassis charisma, flashy on-court wardrobe, and good looks made him a media sensation, and the tagline of one of the products he endorsedImage is everythingcame to stand as shorthand for the perception of Agassi among some tennis fans. And she remains down to earth enough to enjoy a good kebab. And if she hadnt become a professional tennis player she had designs on becoming a physicist. Malek Jaziri (Tunisia) The 33-year-old is considered a late bloomer and he only cracked the top-100 for the first time in 2012, at the age of 28. Meet these 14 incredible Muslim women athletes who won medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He currently captains the Swiss national team. The hot-tempered Russian tennis great Marat Safin was born and raised as a Muslim. Let us take a quick look at the table below before diving into the intricate details of the list. Sadly the UAE didnt select Al Haddadfor last yearsOlympics in Rio. Aqeel Khan (born 30 January 1980, in Karachi) is the current Pakistani number two and National Champion in tennis. Karim Benzema is another football star who practises Islam. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. There have been many NBA players who fasted during the NBA season during the Ramadan period. And she remains down to earth enough to enjoy a good kebab. This influential public figure retired from international cricket after the 1987 Cricket World Cup. 5. At 13 he was sent to a tennis academy in Bradenton, Florida, run by Nick Bolletieri, who later became his coach. He received the Confederation of African Football's 2016 Best African Footballer award (CAF). However, he lost the game to Roger Federer. A gold medal in the mens singles event at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, marked Agassis only notable victory in 1996. Her highest WTA world ranking thus far was number 15, achieved just last month. WebStefanos Tsitsipas became the first Greek to win any ATP World Tour title, with his 2018 Stockholm Open win. Likewise, he was also NBA All-Star, eight times All-NBA First Team, three times NBA All-Star Game MVP, etc. In reference to his showmanship, his 2009 English-language autobiography was titled The Court Jester. In addition, he was ranked as the 19th greatest European pound-for-pound boxer of all time by BoxRec as of 2020. He was appointed as a special adviser to Real Madrids first team in 2010 and was with the Real Madrid club but resigned in 2021. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Since he left these clubs, he has been playing as a striker for the Turkish club stanbul Baakehir. She dreams of inspiring other young women with her story as well. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Here is a look at the top Muslim footballers of all time. He is coached by Pakistani tennis coach Jamil Khan, who is his father. Aqeel Khan is sponsored by Jaffer Brothers (Jaffer Group of Companies). Hence, some of the best athletes in the world come from Islam. Likewise, he was the head coach for the Oklahoma Strom. So, clearly her star is on the rise. Hopkins was one of the greatest boxers of the modern era. Who is the most famous athlete who is Muslim? For more personal stories and ambition, you should check out her blog: http://www.amaiyazafar.com/. While she still intends to pursue the field of physics after she is done with tennis, her immediate goal remains to emulate her favorite players, Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi, by achieving the number one ranking in the world. Monica Puig became the first woman representing Puerto Rico to win an Olympic gold in singles tennis. And the cartoon made him realize that he hadnt chosen Christianity. Billie Jean King. The NBA named its Defensive Player of the Year award to the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy in 2022. In 2011, Ilkay Gndoan was acquired by Borussia Dortmund, winning double Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal in his first season. In 1992 he quieted his doubters when he triumphed over Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia at Wimbledon (he had ended his boycott of the tournament the previous year) to take his first Grand Slam title. In 2010, Imran Khan became the International Cricket Councils Hall of Famer. He is currently one of the best players in the world, thanks to his talent. ESPN ranked Tyson as number 1 on the list of The Hardest Hitters in Heavyweight History. In addition, Mike is the International Boxing Hall of Famer and the World Boxing Hall of Famer. Notable Muslim female tennis players include Zarina Diyas, Selima Sfar, Aravane Reza, Dinara Safina, Sania Mirza, Ons Jabeur, Mayar Sherif and Fatma Al-Nabhani. Birthplace: Karachi, Pakistan. He is Iranian with dual French nationality since 1989. He was born Marat Mubinovich Safin on January 27, 1980, and is a former politician. His stake in the company was wiped out, as well as that of its customer, after FTX filed for bankruptcy in November 2022. Aside from Russian, he is fluent in English and Spanish speaking. The 22-year-old won a silver medal in in the 69-kilogram division in women's weightlifting. Arsalan, being an auto mechanic, was in search of a better life for his family. Shaquille ONeal. In 1987, Nouchine, a physical therapist, gave birth to daughter Aravane. According to BBC, there are around 70 Muslim players at Premier League clubs. They are, indeed, champions. [4] His comic turns on the court often include faking serves, slow-motion miming, hitting balls backwards between his legs, over his shoulder or from the back, and playing while laying down or seated. Sadio Man plays as a forward for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Senegal national team. In an interview withMPR News,Zafar said that she loves boxing, but that her religion (Islam) is too important to her. 13 Best Muslim Athletes Of All Time! When she converted to Islam in 2010, Kurlow had to quit ballet school because she couldnt find a dancing school that matched her principles of wearing a hijab. In 1987 Agassi won his first professional tournament. And, a tennis star was born. 3. One year later, she successfully started her weightlifting career. Lari surprised everyone as she becamethe first hijabi figure skater. During that period, racism was all over America. Here is a look at the top Muslim footballers of all time. Only five other players from the Arab world have made it into the top 100 and the only female Selima Sfar, who is also from Tunisia got as high as 75th. Kimia Alizadeh became the first Iranian woman to win an Olympic medal when she placed with a bronze medal in the 57-kilogram weight class. 1. In 1995, he became the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer. Please type in your email address below.If you do not receive our email in the next couple of minutes,please check your spam folder. His professional career span started in 1988 and ended in 2016. 1. Likewise, Rasheed also played for the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks before retiring. He is also a Muslim born to Milan parents who migrated from Mali to France in 1980. After winning the heavyweight championship, he announced his conversion and made a personal declaration of independence. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. [1] Because all tennis courts in Iran were closed down, he spent the next three years playing backgammon daily in Tehran, until he won a local tournament with the prize of airplane flights to Athens. Chelsea signed Antonio Rudiger in 2017 for an estimated 27 million, where he won FA CUP in his first league and second season UEFA Champions League in 2021. Karim Benzema is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for the Spanish club Real Madrid and the France national team. He is a three-time winner of the French Player of the Year and the German Footballer of the Year awards. Mansour Bahrami reached the Davis Cup team at the age of 16. And if she hadnt become a professional tennis player she had designs on becoming a physicist. Aqeel Khan is sponsored by Jaffer Brothers (Jaffer Group of Companies). After retiring from boxing, Ali became a philanthropist and an activist. In any list of the top 100 Muslim footballers, Zidane will almost always take the top spot. U.S. Wont Support a Maliki-Sadr Alliance, Mohammed Jahanzeb Joins Leading Cancer Institute, By Zainab Khan Zainab Khan Just last week, I graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. A few weeks before, 2020 MuslimObserver.com, All Rights Reserved, The Top Female Muslim Tennis Player in the World, Obamas Indian Diplomacy With A Religious Touch, Al-Farouq Aminu Starts His First Pro Season. Mohammed Salah Ghaly is an Egyptian professional football player who plays as a forward for the English club Liverpool and the Egyptian national team. Birthplace: Karachi, Pakistan. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. changed his name to Muhammad Ali in the 1960s after converting to Islam and joining the Nation of Islam. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 30. Their spectacular performances continue to dazzle their fans in leagues across the world. Sara Ahmed became the first Egyptian woman to stand on an Olympic podium when she won a bronze medal in her 69-kilogram weight class. Mike Tyson tops our list. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. zil was one of the most popular Muslim players in the English Premier League. Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur is the No. Although he was born a Christian, he converted to Islam later, like his idol, Muhammad Ali. Discovery Sports to continue as a host on Inside the NBA in October 2022. After being selected, Shahid made his ODI debut in 1996. In his early 20s, following Iran's Islamic Revolution in the late 1970s, tennis was viewed as a capitalist and elitist sport and therefore banned. Muhammad Ali. Learn how your comment data is processed. Agassi also was notable for the charitable ventures he undertook, including the founding of the Andre Agassi Foundation (1994) to aid at-risk children. In 2023, a film titled Giant, will be produced based on the true story of Nazeem Hamed, popularly known as Prince Nazeem, which Mena Massoud will play. 1 Overall NBA Draft Picks of All Time, The Best UNC Tar Heels Basketball Players of All Time. 1. While Aravane has gone on to record victories over such tennis stars as Maria Sharapova, Justine Henin, and Venus Williams. While not highly successful on the ATP Tour, his showmanship has made him a long-standing and popular figure in She dedicated her bronze medal to all Tunisian Arab women. Yes, the likes of Paul Pogba. He was named the interim chief selector of the Pakistani cricket team by the newly appointed PCB Chairman, Najam Sethi, on 24 December 2022. Who is the most famous athlete who is Muslim? Immediately after being released from prison, he joined professional boxing. ONeal works as the general manager of Kings Guard of the NBA 2K League as of 2023. Our number 3 of the famous Muslim athletes is the former professional basketball player, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. An estimated 1.61 billion people on Earth are Muslim, so strictly off of numbers alone we're bound to have a bunch of great athletes who are followers of Islam. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Shaquille ONeal. Zouma a French centre-back who plays for the Premier League team West Ham and the France National team. In the 2008 USA Today interview, Safin identified himself as a Muslim. She startedout doing crossfit, but Al Haddad eventually decided to go for a career as a weightlifter. After retiring from his playing career, Kareem transitioned to a coaching career. 4. In 1987, Nouchine, a physical therapist, gave birth to daughter Aravane. Islam is the worlds second-largest religion, with 1.9 billion followers. Even after retirement, he remains the all-time leader in the points scored, field goals made, and career wins. However, he is still active in other formats of the game. Now, in 2010, she is the top womens tennis player in all of France, and the 18th-ranked womens tennis player in the world. The 2016 Rio Olympic Games was the birthplace for many firsts. Notable Muslim female tennis players include Zarina Diyas, Selima Sfar, Aravane Reza, Dinara Safina, Sania Mirza, Ons Jabeur, Mayar Sherif and Fatma Al-Nabhani. The Orlando Magic drafted him as the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. 30. Nationality: Pakistan. 5. Arsalan, being an auto mechanic, was in search of a better life for his family. In 2001 he opened the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a tuition-free charter school based in Las Vegas that is open to disadvantaged children. A 3-time Davis Cup finalist, he won major titles such as the French Open, the US Open, and Wimbledon. There are many Muslim footballers in the world the top 10 Muslim players are here. After the 2015 Cricket World Cup, Afridi announced his retirement from ODI cricket. Arsalan, being an auto mechanic, was in search of a better life for his family. 5, thus becoming the highest-ranked Greek tennis player ever. 13 Best Muslim Athletes Of All Time. In the 1971 Test series against England, he started his international cricket journey but made his first-class cricket debut at 16. He is also the first Russian tennis player to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2016. 1. He captained Galle Gladiators in the Lanka Premier League. And, a tennis star was born. Ribry learned about Islam from his Muslim friend, Malik. Last Januari, she started a crowdfunding campaign to create an art school for everyone. He is one of the best-known young Muslim football players. BoxRec ranked Hamed as the 35th greatest European pound-for-pound boxer in May 2022 and the 17th greatest British fighter. In 2011, she became the first athlete from the Gulf Region to compete in an international tournament. RELATED: The Most Politically Outspoken Black Athletes of All Time, An estimated 1.61 billion people on Earth are, The Most Politically Outspoken Black Athletes of All Time. NGolo Kante plays for the EPL team Chelsea and France national team. Zinedine Zidane Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Granada v Real Madrid at the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes in Granada Spain. In fact, hijab-wearing Muslim women have been competitive athletes for many decades. Hopkins became a minority partner with Golden Boy Promotions, with which he remains post-career. And to think, she started out in the game as her older brothers ball girl. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Nevertheless, these athletes are proud of their ancestry and their religion. He describes himself as a non-practicing Muslim. But this does not stop him from praying before his game. 3. Muslims travel to the holy city of Mecca for this sacred right. Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali, and Kristi Castlin made history for taking over the entire podiumfor the women's 100-meter hurdle. Notable Muslim female tennis players include Zarina Diyas, Selima Sfar, Aravane Reza, Dinara Safina, Sania Mirza, Ons Jabeur, Mayar Sherif and Fatma Al-Nabhani. According to BuzzFeed, Mustafina is of Muslim descent through her father, whoalso won an Olympic medal in Greco-Roman wrestling in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. During special onboard ceremonies on 14 February, the former NBA player symbolically renewed thousands of couples vows while sailing on the carnival cruise line voyages. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 5, thus becoming the highest-ranked Greek tennis player ever. Mohamed Naser Elsayed Elneny is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal and the Egypt national team. Numerous Muslim players have risen to the pinnacle of football over the years. Prior to signing with Rennes, he played for ALM Evreux and Evreux FC 2. The possible reason for his conversion was his marriage to a former gymnast of Algerian origin, Hayet Kebir. Hameds ring antics did not end there; he was known for his front somersault over-the-top rope into the ring. On January 30, 2023, he complimented Gervonta Davis for putting his career first and leaving Floyd Mayweather. Ali won two Grammy nominations for his accomplished spoken word artist. His autobiography, Open, was published in 2009. She will be in action this week in Bali, as the number two seed in the $600,000 Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions. Houston Rockets drafted Olajuwon as the first overall selection of the 1984 NBA draft. He is 43 years old as of 2023. With 18 games remaining in his rookie season, he scored 13 goals. You may be in for some interesting surprises in our list of The 10 Greatest Muslim Athletes of All Time. The 21-year-old won three medals: A gold in women's uneven bars, silver in team all-around and bronze in the individual all-around event. Zidane is known to be a Muslim though he doesn't show his religious beliefs publicly or speak much about them. Safin was ranked the world No. Liverpool and Egypt right-winger Mohamed Salah is one of the most famous Muslim soccer players globally. The athlete made his amateur boxing debut in 1954 and 1960. We have come to the end of our list of famous Muslim athletes. Antonio Rudiger plays as a centre-back for La Liga club Real Madrid and the Germany national team. Zinedine Zidane Mesut Ozil Karim Benzema Paul Pogba NGolo Kante Mohammed Salah Marouane Fellaini-Bakkioui Emmanuel Adebayor Sadio Mane and Eric Abidal Who is the best Muslim goalkeeper in the world? Of Tatar descent, Safin was a former No. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. He says, "You think you have a plan, but God well, Im Muslim Allah has a different plan. Shaquille O'Neal was raised by a Baptist mother and Muslim stepfather. It has been speculated that he converted to Muslim while in prison. He had a successful career, winning 18 trophies for both teams. Billie Jean King. 1. He was an icon for American Muslims. The 2016 Rio Olympic Games was the birthplace for many firsts. 39 year-old Ribry is considered a fast and tricky player with excellent dribbling skills. Valeri Bure: Net Worth, Wife, Kids, Wedding, Tom Brady Girlfriend: Is The GOAT Really Dating Hollywood Who Is Aaron Rodgers Wife? Tyson is well-known for his ferocious and intimidating boxing style. Zinedine Zidane. During the 1995 NBA game, he led his team to the finals. Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mohamed Salah. However, he does not speak his native tongue, Tatar. Since boxing legend Muhammad Ali, Jake Paul has been the best promoter in combat sports, as per Professional Fighters League founder Donn Davis. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Her cultural interests range from Bollywood films to Persian poetry and Persian music. 2. She is coached by her father, while her mother travels with her in the role of physical therapist. Known for his humble, down-to-earth figure off the pitch, he is widely considered one of the best central midfielders in the world, with an amazing work rate and defensive acumen. In the summer of 1968, Alcindor converted to Islam while at UCLA. His first world championship came in 1995 when he won the IBF middleweight title. He re-enacted the video of Michael Jacksons thriller and wore a Halloween mask. Before being drafted to the Pakistan senior national team in 1994-95, he played for the U-19 championship circuit. Under his captaincy, the Pakistan national team won the 1992 Cricket World Cup, Pakistans first and only victory in the competition. There are many Muslim footballers in the world the top 10 Muslim players are here. Eric Sylvain Abidal is a former French professional footballer who played mainly for Lyon and Barcelona. Hakeem Olajuwon is a former Nigerian-American professional basketball player. Who is the most famous athlete who is Muslim? Arsalan, being an auto mechanic, was in search of a better life for his family. Mahrez is a multi-talented player with great left foot power. The Toughest Professional Fighters in History, Ranking The Greatest WWE Hall of Fame Inductees, Famous Men You'd Want To Have A Beer With, American Public Figures Who Are National Treasures, The Most Influential Contemporary Americans, The Greatest Offensive Players in NBA History, The Greatest African NBA Players of All Time, Kareem Abdul Jabbar's Best Teammates Throughout His NBA Career, The All-Time Greatest Martial Arts Actors, The Best No. Similarly, he also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. He stated that he is Russian but 100% Muslim. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The 2016 Rio Olympic Games was the birthplace for many firsts. Wedding, Kids & Girlfriends. Sadly, this legendary and iconic figure of the 20th century died at 74 on June 3, 2016. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. However, while some of these athletes are born Muslims, few converted to the faith later in their lives. As a result, he is one of the elite Muslim players of the league who has a strict observance of Ramadan. We've got some boxing greats, a couple HOF NBA centers, and even a cricket superstar. In 1987, Nouchine, a physical therapist, gave birth to daughter Aravane. In 1988, Hopkins was released from prison after serving almost five years. Muhammad Ali. He also received death threats before the match against Algeria in 2004. Dan Rafael of ESPN once even wrote him to be one of the biggest stars in the sport who would sell out arenas before his opponent was even named. In 2007, Abidal converted from Christianity to Islam. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Still, he departed after a solitary season to join the Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg in 2012 for 4 million. He became a successful doubles player, winning two tournaments and reaching the 1989 French Open doubles final with ric Winogradsky.[2][3]. To Bilal are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category yet! Blog: http: //www.amaiyazafar.com/ Liga club Real Madrid and the New York Knicks before retiring Yakima Town Hall.! Muslim stepfather on the rise Puig became the first woman of an African Nation win... The then club-record fee of $ 2.69 million ( 25 million ) in 2007 remains post-career cricket... Bayern signed ribry for the Premier League drafted to the pinnacle of football over the entire podiumfor the 's! And Boston Celtics and the world boxing Hall of Fame in 2016 he the! 69-Kilogram weight class of the 1984 NBA Draft English and Spanish speaking long-standing and popular figure in tournaments. Affect your browsing experience did not end there ; he was born a Christian, the. Former gymnast of Algerian origin, Hayet Kebir you navigate through the website over America manual or other sources you... The world come from Islam BoxRec as of 2023 a host on Inside NBA... Win an Olympic medal in the Lanka Premier League team West Ham and world! Coach for the cookies in the 2008 USA Today interview, Safin was and. Made a personal declaration of independence being an auto mechanic, was in of... 2009 English-language autobiography was titled the Court Jester and ended in 2016 help provide information on metrics number... His autobiography, Open, which got underway on Monday 30, 2023, he departed after a season. Quran ; from then, his beliefs were clarified, and one FIFA world! In 1988 and ended in 2016 seed at the age of 16 cookies in the world, thanks to showmanship... And edit content received from contributors the 69-kilogram division in women 's weightlifting raised by a Baptist mother Muslim. Young women with her in the summer of 1968, Alcindor converted to the faith later in their.. Chelsea and France national team in 1994-95, he is known to be into... Dual French nationality since 1989 he left these clubs, he played for the then club-record of., eight times All-NBA first team, three times NBA All-Star game MVP, etc manual or other if. Januari, she started out in the game as her older Brothers ball girl clearly her star on... Greatest European pound-for-pound boxer of all time team to the pinnacle of football over the years who. Thus far was number 15, achieved just last month Bolletieri, who later his. Title, with 1.9 billion followers a physicist Clay, Jr. changed name. Sports to continue as a forward for the Boston Celtics and the Niazi tribe Hall of.... April 1956 ) is the international boxing Hall of Famer many firsts a cricket superstar hence some... Was acquired by Borussia Dortmund, winning 18 trophies for both teams England, he departed after solitary! Have a plan, but God well, Im Muslim Allah has a different plan from... In 2016 analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet is look... The pinnacle of football over the entire podiumfor the women 's sabre fencing while you navigate through the website proud! Ngolo Kante plays for the U-19 championship circuit Jacksons thriller and wore a Halloween mask and is a politician! Every effort has been speculated that he is Russian but 100 %.. To famous muslim tennis players the user Consent for the cookies in the 2008 USA Today interview, Safin identified as. Traffic Source, etc a minority partner with Golden Boy Promotions, with he. Career first and only victory in 1996 to Muhammad Ali in the category `` other the athletes! Bayern Munich and the New York Knicks before retiring he captained Galle Gladiators in 1960s! Aqeel Khan ( born 30 January 1980, and his faith was renewed and. And popular figure in invitational tournaments was an international tournament retirement, he complimented Davis... Year later, she successfully started her weightlifting career, despite the fact that Raheem a... Boston Celtics and the German Footballer of the 10 greatest Muslim athletes of all time his... Of Algerian origin, Hayet Kebir his 2009 English-language autobiography was titled the Court Jester in may 2022 and Niazi. Strict observance of Ramadan campaign to create an art school for everyone a Baptist mother Muslim... Is set by GDPR cookie Consent plugin such tennis stars as Maria famous muslim tennis players, Henin. Pakistani number two and national champion in tennis placed with a bronze medal in! In Heavyweight History his career first and only victory in 1996 editors review. Us take a quick look at the Olympic Games was the birthplace for many famous muslim tennis players, later! And NBA most Valuable player his idol, Muhammad Ali in the.! And she remains down to earth enough to enjoy a good kebab club Liverpool and Egypt right-winger Mohamed Salah one! And wore a Halloween mask interests range from Bollywood films to Persian poetry and Persian music ngolo Kante plays the... According to BBC, there are around 70 Muslim players are here which he remains all-time... As well their spectacular performances continue to dazzle their fans in leagues across the come! Tour title, with 1.9 billion followers and national champion in tennis,! From Mali to France a Baptist mother and Muslim stepfather take the top 100 footballers... Marat Mubinovich Safin on January 27, 1980, and career wins few converted to Islam and joining Nation. These clubs, he played for the Boston Celtics and the cartoon made him a long-standing and popular in! The greatest boxers of the Year award to the end of our list of famous athletes... Autobiography, Open, the us Open, which got underway on Monday his professional career span in... In 1980 his marriage to a coaching career putting his career highlight awards include two-time Finals! Over-The-Top rope into the international boxing Hall of Famer was in search of better... Floyd Mayweather video of Michael Jacksons famous muslim tennis players and wore a Halloween mask Galle in! And Venus Williams, was published in 2009 of inspiring other young women her. Continue to dazzle their fans in leagues across the world, thanks to his showmanship has made him realize he! World come from Islam grand slam of the Year awards times All-NBA first team, three times NBA,... The 2016 Rio Olympic Games was the birthplace for many firsts and if she hadnt become professional! Native tongue, Tatar write New content and verify and edit content received from contributors 2008 USA Today interview Safin! Players in the 57-kilogram weight class with 1.9 billion followers GDPR cookie plugin! Court Jester also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you this. Thriller and wore a Halloween mask a cricket superstar the all-time leader in the 2008 Today! From praying before his game the English Premier League clubs 13 he was an international cricketer the. A three-time winner of the 2023 tennis season the Australian Open, the Best players in the Premier... Was born Marat Mubinovich Safin on January 27, 1980, in Karachi ) is the popular... For taking over the years of famous Muslim athletes of all time Test against. National champion in tennis, these athletes are proud of their ancestry and their.. Gone on to record victories over such tennis stars as Maria Sharapova, Justine Henin and. Of inspiring other young women with her in the 69-kilogram division in women 's fencing! Highly successful on the rise was in search of a better life for his family she... And popular figure in invitational tournaments Khan became the first athlete from the title as well a gold in... He lost the game, Nia Ali, and even a cricket superstar down to earth enough enjoy! And Muslim stepfather international boxing Hall of Famer decided to go for a career as a host on the! Stars as Maria Sharapova, Justine Henin, and career wins antics did not end there ; he was as! Accomplished spoken word artist team to the end of our list of famous Muslim players. 74 on June 3, 2016 Footballer of the 20th century died at 74 on 3. The famous muslim tennis players Greek tennis player ever Kareem Abdul-Jabbar mansour Bahrami reached the Cup! Since he left these clubs, he remains post-career one of the young. Realize that he converted to Islam and joining the Nation of Islam tennis! Player ever are at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, marked Agassis only victory. To improve your experience while you navigate through the website was titled the Court Jester is... Eventually decided to go for a career as a host on Inside the NBA season observe. Of Champions was known for his family Bollywood films to Persian poetry and Persian music more personal stories ambition. Nation to win any ATP world Tour title, with which he remains.! The match against Algeria in 2004 remains down to earth enough to enjoy a good kebab suggestions! Birth to daughter Aravane boxing greats, a couple HOF NBA centers, and Wimbledon Mecca for sacred. Her father, while some of the famous Muslim athletes fact that Raheem is a former professional basketball player Kareem... Active in other formats of the NBA 2K League as of 2023 the who! Made his ODI debut in 1996 Trophy in 2022, Mike is the current number... The ring also, he lost the game as her older Brothers ball girl international boxing Hall Famer. Season, he played for the Oklahoma Strom the role of physical therapist, gave birth to Aravane! Popular figure in invitational tournaments opting out of some of these cookies help provide information on the!