Islam Slimani

At 35 years old, Islam Slimani has this physical status:

Islam Slimani (born 18 June 1988) is an Algerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Monaco on loan from Leicester City and for the Algeria national team. Slimani began his career in his homeland with JSM Chéraga and CR Belouizdad.

In 2013, he moved to Europe, signing for Sporting CP.

He played and scored regularly during his three seasons in Portugal, helping his team win the Taça de Portugal in 2015.

In 2016, Slimani was transferred to Leicester for a club record £28 million fee. An Algerian international, Slimani made his international debut in 2012 and played at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, 2015 and 2017, and was part of the Algeria side that won the 2019 tournament.

He was also part of Algeria's squad at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he finished as the team's joint top scorer with two goals.

As of October 2019, he has won 68 international caps and scored 29 goals, making him Algeria's second highest all-time goalscorer.

Early life

Slimani was born in Algiers, Algeria.

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Club career

Slimani joined CR Belouizdad from JSM Chéraga for an 800,000 Algerian dinars transfer fee, as part of a two-year deal in May 2009. In the first week of the 2009–10 Algerian Championnat National Championshipnat National Championships, he made his official debut for the club as a starter against MC Oran. He scored 8 goals in 30 games during Belouizdad's first season.

Slimani scored four goals in a league match against JS Kabylie on May 17, 2011, leading CR Belouizdad to a 4–1 win. Slimani signed a two-year deal with CR Belouizdad in July 2011, with his deal coming to an end and several French clubs, including Nice and Le Havre, showing an interest in signing him.

Slimani joined Sporting CP for an undisclosed fee on August 6, 2013. He began the 2013-14 season as a replacement, and he has a reputation as an impact player due to his scoring crucial goals when coming off the bench. Slimani came back as a starter and scored four goals in four matches against Rio Ave, Braga, Vitória de Setbal, and 1–0 over rivals Porto due to Fredy Montero's lack of form, but the two players were a start. He was dubbed the best Algerian footballer of the year in December 2013 after winning the Algerian Golden Ball.

Slimani's second season was fruitful, making him a key figure. In the Derby de Lisboa 1–1 away draw to Benfica, his first goal of the season was achieved. Slimani scored his first goal against Schalke 04 at Estádio José Alvalade in the last minute, putting the sport at 4-2. Slimani finished third in the league at the end of the season, but he advanced to the final against Braga on May 31. Slimani played 33 games and scored 15 goals, including 12 in the league, achieving his first title in his career at the end of the season.

Slimani said it will be his last season and aspires to win the Primeira Liga without a single goal in the 2015-2016 season, his second title for Sporting and former Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who said he'll rely heavily on Slimani to win the titles, said he will miss the titles. Slimani scored his first goal against Académica in an away match on October 4, 2015, and he scored his first hat-trick in the Portuguese league against Vitória de Guimares in the seventh round. Slimani scored two goals against Porto's goalkeeper Iker Casillas to lead the team back to the top of the league table at the top of the league table. Slimani scored in four straight games 6 goals against Vitória de Settbal, Braga, Tondela, and Paços de Ferreira after this game. He returned to score twice in Nacional after two matches.

Benfica lodged a lawsuit against Slimani for attacking Andreas Samaris with his elbow in a Portuguese Cup match on November 21, 2015. The Portuguese League announced Slimani would play in the title's decisive match. It was long awaited and one day before the match. However, the team lost 1–0 and fell to second place behind Benfica in second place, behind Benfica. In the match against Estoril, he scored his 20th goal of the season so far. He scored four goals against Belenenses, Martimo, and Moreirense, as well as Porto, following this meeting. After scoring two goals, Slimani contributed to the victory over Estádio do Drago. He scored his 27th goal of the season against Braga in the final round. The match ended 4–0, but Sporting was unable to win the league crown, as Benfica had more points. Slimani scored 27 goals in the league last season, but last season, he came in second, with 32 goals.

Sporting wanted to keep Slimani for the upcoming season, but the club was eventually allowed by the administration. He played his last match against Porto at Estádio José Alvalade on August 28, 2016 and finished 2–1 for Sporting.

Slimani joined Leicester City, the Premier League's last day of the 2016-2017 summer transfer window in England, on August 31, 2016. Sporting's transfer fee was reported as £28 million, a Leicester club record. Leicester had defeated West Bromwich Albion in order to sign Slimani.

In a 3–0 victory over Club Brugge on September 14, he made his UEFA Champions League debut, playing 62 minutes. In a 3–0 victory over Burnley three days later, he made his Premier League debut, scoring his team's first two goals. Slimani scored the only goal in Leicester's 1–0 victory over Porto in the Champions League group stage on September 27, after a pass from Algerian national teammate Riyad Mahrez. It was his sixth goal with Iker Casillas in 2016, five of which he scored while playing for his former club Sporting.

Slimani didn't score until matchday 11 of the Premier League against West Bromwich Albion from a pass from Mahrez, but Leicester lost 2–1. Slimani's team earned the equalizer against Middlesbrough after arriving as a replacement on matchday 13. Slimani aided the Foxes to win over Manchester City 4–2 on matchday 15, giving them two assists for goalcorers Jamie Vardy and Andy King. Slimani scored the winning goal against West Ham United at the King Power Stadium on December 31 on the last day of the Premier League this season, leading his team to their fifth victory in the Premier League this season.

Slimani scored four of his five league goals from headers but had only had a 38 percent shooting success by January 2017. Slimani returned to the team after his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, but the remainder of his season, where he did not participate much and scored only two goals against Sunderland and Everton. He scored two goals in a League Cup match against Sheffield United.

Slimani signed for Newcastle United on loan until the end of the season on January 31, 2018. He was unable to make his debut for the club, which came exactly two months after signing in a 1–0 victory over Huddersfield Town, and he was involved in the build-up for the team's only goal, which was scored by Ayoze Pérez. Slimani was back in the build-up for the match-winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Arsenal on April 15 after his header was flicked on by Pérez, bringing his header forward and into Matt Ritchie's path.

Slimani received a three-match suspension for violent conduct after an off-the-ball collision with Craig Dawson of West Bromwich Albion, effectively ending his season with Newcastle.

Slimani joined Fenerbahçe on a season-long loan on August 11, 2018. He made his debut on August 18th and was unstoppable in 1–0 loss to Yeni Malatyaspor. Fenerbahçe's second goal of the club's 3–2 loss to Kayserispor came on September 1, 2018. He scored his first goal for the club on September 1, 2018.

Slimani joined Monaco on a season-long loan on August 21, 2019. Despite scoring nine goals and seven assists in 18 league games before the COVID-19 pandemic in May, Monaco chose not to give Slimani a permanent contract.

Slimani joined Lyon in Ligue 1 on January 1321. In a 0–1 loss to Metz, he made his league debut on January 1821, appearing as a replacement for Tino Kadewere in the 76th minute. In a 5–1 Coupe de France victory over Ajaccio on February 9, he scored his first goal for the club. In a 4–2 loss to Paris Saint Germain, he scored his first league goal for the club since being a replacement.

Slimani's contract with Lyon was terminated by mutual consent on February 1, 2022, effectively making him a free agent.

Slimani rejoined Sporting CP immediately after his deal with Lyon was slashed, signing a one-and-a-half-year deal. Pedro Porro's return to Lees on the pitch on February 6, 2022, when he was sitting off the bench in the 74th minute during his 2–0 league win over Famalica. On Madeira against Marguetton, he scored in a cross from Matheus Reis for his first goal since returning to action on February 26th.

Slimani signed with Ligue 1 side Brest on August 25, 2022.

International career

Slimani was summoned by Abdelhak Benchikha for the first time to the Algeria A' National Team for a week-long training camp in Algiers in October 2009. Slimani was recalled again in March 2010 as a replacement for his injured CR Belouizdad teammate Youcef Sabi. Slimani did not participate in the game, however, as Algeria defeated 1–0.

Slimani was named in May 2012 for the first time in the Algeria national team's 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Mali and Rwanda, as well as the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Gambia. He made his debut on May 26th, arriving as a replacement in a friendly against Niger at halftime. Slimani's first international goal for Algeria came in a 4–0 victory over Rwanda in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers a week later. He started with another goal against Mali in the next game, and then scored two more goals against Gambia.

Slimani was selected for Algeria's squad in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and appeared in all three group games in January. Algeria, on the other hand, won one point and was disqualified at the first stage.

Algeria qualified for the 2014 World Cup, with head Vahid Halilhodhod selecting Slimani for his 23-man team. In a 4–2 group match against South Korea on June 22, 2014, Slimani scored the first goal for les Fennecs. He also contributed to the team's third goal by handing the ball to Abdelmoumene Djabou. Slimani scored a header in Algeria's 1–1 draw with Russia on June 26th, helping the country qualify for the knockout rounds of the World Cup for the first time since struggling to do so in 1982, 1986, and 2010. Slimani's headed goal was disallowed in the first half for offside, but later on, German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer saved his brilliant goal. Algeria eventually lost 2–1 after extra time, but the tournament was lauded for an excellent showing throughout the season.

Slimani scored the final goal in Algeria's 3–1 win over South Africa in the first match of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Slimani was part of Algeria's winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring one goal against Tanzania in the group stage.

Slimani scored four goals in an 8-0 thrashing of Djibouti in qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup on September 2nd. He scored a brace in a 6–1 draw over Niger on October 8th, 2021 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, surpassing Abdelhafid Tasfaout who set the record for 36 goals since 2002.

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