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Fasting Football Players Who Played During Ramadan 1. Mohamed Salah 2. Mesut Özil 3. Sadio Mané 4. N’Golo Kanté 5. Achraf Hakimi 6. Paul Pogba 7. Karim Benzema 8. Riyad Mahrez
Fasting during Ramadan is done without eating or drinking anything between dawn and dusk. That’s a challenge for footballers who need to be fit to play intense matches on a regular basis.
For Muslims, fasting during Ramadan is a sacred obligation, but for footballers it means competing on empty stomachs with very little energy.
But not all great athletes perform incredible performances while fasting. In this article we list the Famous Football Players who Fasted During Ramadan and played Matches.
1. Mohamed Salah
2. Mesut Özil
3 Sadio Mané
4. N’Golo Kanté
5. Achraf Hakimi
6. Paul Pogba
7. Karim Benzema
8. Riyad Mahrez
9. Edin Džeko
10. İlkay Gündoğan
Mohamed Salah is a proud Muslim who fasts during Ramadan, even during the hot football leagues. He’s a key player for Liverpool. In 2019, Ramadan ran from May 5 through June 4; it even overlapped with the UEFA Champions League final.
On June 1, 2019 Salah was on the pitch against Tottenham Hotspur in the final as he was on a fast. Fortunately, he scored a penalty to put Liverpool 2-0 ahead. After a lengthy period of not eating or drinking water for more than 12 hours Salah did his best to stay focussed and have plenty of energy.
That season he also shared the Premier League Golden Boot, as he scored 22 goals. Still, not only did he fast long enough to finish his season on a high note but he did so while also contributing to a 3-1 win over Benfica.
Salah has spoken about juggling his faith and playing football, saying he enjoys good rest and eating after sunset to be lean and build strength.
As a practicing Muslim he also fasts during Ramadan (the holy month from dawn to sunset), and often posts messages on social media, such as "Ramadan Mubarak to all my Muslim brothers and sisters" in 2023, 2019 and 2024.
However, as a professional athlete he sometimes put his fasting up due to busy schedules (especially during tournaments).
2014 World Cup: Ramadan coincided with the tournament (June 28 kickoff); zil (like other Muslim players, including Xherdan Shaqiri) chose not to fast to maintain their best performance for Germany, which won the tournament. Islamic rulings have allowed exemption to athletes in high levels of physical activity.
Özil once said, "Because of my job I cannot follow Ramadan properly," but he fasts when possible and compensates later. In non-tournament seasons (like 2019 at Arsenal), he fasted during training and at games. He had to adjust with club support after sunset.
Senegalese forward, is another player who fasts during Ramadan. In 2022, while at Liverpool, he scored two goals in Premier League matches during the holy month.
Again, Mané scored against Manchester City on April 10, 2022, and both goals came in a 2-2 draw. This was a key game for the title race. Mané’s speed and work rate didn’t drop, even though he was fasting for over 12 hours before games.
In fact, Mané’s pace and hard work did not slack. He scored 22 Premier League goals in 2019 alongside Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the Golden Boot Award.
France midfielder N’Golo Kanté, who is known for his constantly fasting and modesty, had several impressive performances during Ramadan 2021 (4 April to May). One of them was the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid on May 5, 2021.
N’Golo Kanté ran 12 kilometers, won 5 tackles and was named Man of the Match in Chelsea’s 2-0 victory en route to the final.
More amazing performances: N’Golo Kanté did not lose himself while fasting though. His defensive work and passing was all top-notch.
Moroccan midfielder Achraf Hakimi is a top right back who fasts during Ramadan. In 2018, playing for Borussia Dortmund, Hakimi’s career sprang up during the holy month, with more goals and assists than usual.
An assist was posted in a 4-0 win against Freiburg in the Bundesliga on April 21, 2018. Hakimi’s pace and attacking runs during Ramadan were all impressive. At PSG over the years, the Moroccan played well during the holy month.
France midfielder Paul Pogba exercises his fast during Ramadan and has been very effective in playing matches. In 2021 in the month of Ramadan (April to May), he came to the Europa League semi-final first leg against Roma on April 29.
He scored and assisted in a 6-2 victory for his side. Pogba’s ability to control the midfield and create chances never changed. During the day without food or water, he had every advantage.
Karim Benzema is a devout Muslim who fasts during Ramadan. In 2022 Ramadan was the midpoint of a critical period in the season of Real Madrid.
Benzema became famous for his two hat-tricks in a row while on a fast, one scored against Paris Saint-Germain (Cup Winner) on March 9, 2022, in a 3–1 comeback victory. This performance of his did not affect his concentration, finishing or leadership.
His performances during Ramadan enabled Real Madrid to win both La Liga and the Champions League that year.
Algerian winger who also fasts during Ramadan and has been incredibly productive in it. In 2022, Mahrez played some key matches in Manchester City’s Premier League play-off run.
In 2022, Mahrez scored in the City’s 3-0 victory over Brighton to keep City top of the table. Mahrez’s speed, creativity and quality of play have been amazing that season when it comes to fasting with his demands at the top of a professional football team.
Edin Dzeko is another player who fasts during Ramadan. In 2023, while playing for Inter Milan, he took in some big goals in Serie A during the holy month.
A key strike was on April 1, 2023, in a game against Fiorentina where he scored in a 1-0 win. Deko’s presence in possession and ability to score was good, despite being fasted for hours. He took it very well knowing how to manage himself with his energy levels.
German midfielder İlkay Gündoğan also fasts like other players during Ramadan and had performed well in key matches. In 2023, during Ramadan (March to April), he played full games for Manchester City in their Premier League title race.
A notable match was against Arsenal on April 26, 2023, where he scored twice in a 4-1 win, a crucial result for the title. Gündoğan’s passing and leadership were vital, showing no dip in performance despite fasting.
Clearly these players are extraordinary, being so committed to both their faith and the sport. Fasting during Ramadan which can take from 12-16 hours depending on where you are can be very difficult for these players who compete in matches for 90 minutes and play hard in training.
Many of them, such as Salah and Benzema have also commented on the need to eat high energy food such as dates, lentils, fish and protein after sunset to return to the game and also adjust their training schedules.
Some clubs, like Liverpool, Real Madrid allow their Muslim players to train later in the day so they do not use up all their energy during the day.
Their exemplary performances show that religion and discipline can play an important role in elite level football, and each of them achieving goals, assists or a dominant performance during fasting time confirms their professionalism and mentality.