Moussa Sissoko

At 34 years old, Moussa Sissoko has this physical status:

Early life and career

Sissoko was born in Le Blanc-Mesnil, a Paris suburb, to Malian parents. His father is a building worker, and his mother is a housewife. Sissoko is the oldest of four children, with three younger sisters. "I quickly understood that football could help me have a happier life," he said. Sissoko joined Espérance Aulnay's youth academy, based in nearby Aulnay-sous-Bois, a suburb in northeastern Paris at the age of six. He trained three times a week at the club under the direction of trainer Adama Dieye, who now works as a reporter for the club's futsal team. "I am here today because of him," Sissoko says of Dieye, who has been a significant mentor in his growth. Sissoko made the move from Saint-Ouen to AS Red Star 93 in July 1999. Sissoko spent two years with the club and was teammates with former France youth international Yannis Salibur. In September 2001, he returned to Aulnay for a second two years before deciding on a move to a professional team.

Club career

Sissoko made the trip south to the Haute-Garonne department in July 2003 to join professional club Toulouse FC. He completed an aspirant (youth) deal and was placed in the club's under-14 team. Sissoko spent three years in the club's youth academy alongside future teammates Cheikh M'Bengue and Étienne Capoue before receiving a call-up to the club's reserve squad in the Championsnat de France amateur competition, the fourth level of French football, ahead of the 2006-07 season. Sissoko appeared in 18 games during the amateur season, quickly becoming one of the club's most coveted after prospects. He obtained a lot of fascination from English clubs Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers before deciding to sign his professional contract with Toulouse.

Sissoko first professional contract signed in 2006-07, 2006-2010, before committing to a three-year contract with Toulouse until June 2010. In the ensuing summer, he was promoted to the club's senior team and was given the number 22 shirt by boss Elie Baup. In a 3–1 loss to Valenciennes, Sissoko made his professional debut on August 4th, 2004 as a replacement. In the club's 1–0 triumph over defending champions Lyon, he got off to a slow start the following week. He appeared in the club's third qualifying round first leg match against Liverpool on August 15, the club's third qualifying round first leg match. In the final minute, Sissoko pulled Albin Ebondo out of the equation and received a yellow card. On aggregate, Toulouse lost the first leg 1–0 and tied 5–0. In a 2–0 win over Auxerre on September 1, Sissoko scored in injury time after arriving as a replacement two minutes earlier. He joined the squad in late September as a regular starter playing in the defensive midfielder role alongside attackers Achille Emana and Fodé Mansaré and captain Nicolas Dieuze. Sissoko scored his second goal of the season against Paris in the Coupe de France on January 6, 2008. Toulouse lost the match 2–1 to the semi-professional club. Despite Sissoko's promising individual season, Toulouse's Alain Casanova took place one step above relegation and Baup was sacked and replaced by Alain Casanova. Following the season, Sissoko signed a contract extension with the club until 2012.

Casanova moved Sissoko into the box-to-box midfielder role ahead of the 2008-09 season to welcome up-and-coming defensive midfielder Étienne Capoue and Étienne Didot, both from Rennes, as a result of Emana's departure to Spain. Sissoko was able to maintain his defensive duties while also demonstrating his attacking skills. Sissoko's debut under Casanova was mainly as a replacement, but by December, he had become a regular in the starting eleven. In an 8–0 thrashing in the Coupe de France on January 24, 2009, he scored his first goal of the season against amateur Alsatian club FCE Schirrhein. It was a memorable play with Sissoko running virtually the entire field with the ball at his feet, eluding several Schirrhein players before finishing in the six-yard box. Toulouse reached the semi-finals of the competition before losing 2–1 to eventual winners Guingamp. Sissoko played a key role in helping a resurgent Toulouse side finish fourth in the league, earning qualification for the newly formed UEFA Europa League. In a 2–0 win over Le Mans on February 7, he scored his first goal of the league season. In victories over Derby de la Garonne rivals Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain, Sissoko scored goals. He made 40 appearances and scored five goals in total. He and teammate Capoue were selected for the UNFP Young Player of the Year Award for his efforts, as well as teammate Capoue who also had a fruitful season.

Sissoko drew a lot of attention from Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the 2009-10 season. According to reports, the English club raised the price for the player to £12 million, then boosted it to £15.5 million before president Olivier Sadran announced that Sissoko would not be sold. Despite Sadran's remarks, fellow Premier League team Manchester City, Italian clubs Internazionale and Juventus, and German club Bayern Munich were all linked to Sissoko. Sadran confirmed that Sissoko will not leave the club for less than €30 million, assuaging the rumors.

Sissoko began his 2009-2010 campaign by displaying his offensive prowess as he scored six league goals in the club's first 12 games. In the club's second league match of the season against Saint-Étienne, who lost by 3–1. He scored in the club's 2–0 victory over Le Mans on September 20, 2009, and in the following week, scored the first goal in the club's 2–1 loss to Lyon. Sissoko scored his first European goal in a UEFA Europa League group stage match against Belgian club Brugge on October 1st. The game ended in a 2–2 draw. Sissoko scored his fourth league goal of the season on October 24 in a 2–0 away victory over Lens. Sissoko opened both openers in a 1–1 draw with Marseille and a 3–2 win over Rennes at home. Sissoko's goalscoring slowed in the later part of the season, with just one goal after winning by 3–1 over Valenciennes in the winter break. He was a regular in the team for the remainder of the season, but Toulouse struggled to keep up with the league's best players and ended in 14th place.

Despite interest from several clubs, Sissoko decided to stay at the club and told his agent that he was content to deal with his transfer situation. In a 2–1 loss to Boulogne-sur-Mer in the Coupe de la Ligue on September 22, he scored his first goal of the new season. Sissoko's both team and team won a 2–0 victory over Monaco on February 6, 2011.

Newcastle United's English side Newcastle United announced on January 21, 2013 that they had signed Sissoko on a six-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee, likely to be in the region of £1.5 million. Sissoko's fee was allegedly waived in order to prevent the transfer from going through, but Toulouse refused to let him leave until the summer, when his contract came to an end. He was given the number 7 shirt.

On January 29, he made his Newcastle debut on January 29, 2001, providing the assistance for the opening goal in a 2–1 victory over Aston Villa. Sissoko scored both the equalizing and winning goals in his second match at St James' Park, his first at St James' Park. Sissoko scored in a 4–2 victory over Southampton on February 24.

Sissoko's first goal of the 2013–14 season came against West Bromwich Albion on November 30th, a 25-yard kick that made the score 2–1. In the final minutes of a game against Southampton in December, he was involved in an incident in which he mistakenly struck referee Jones in the chest while attempting to run away from the opposing goalkeeper. In a 4–1 victory over Hull City in March 2014, he scored twice in what the Chronicle reporter, Neil Cameron, called "utterly outstanding" results.

After Fabricio Coloccini sustained an injury, Sissoko was given the captain's armband in the 2014-2015 season. Sissoko scored his first league goal of the season in his first match as captain, defeating Queens Park Rangers 1–0. Sissoko was awarded two yellows in the space of 45 seconds in a 1–0 home loss to West Ham United on Sunday. Newcastle defeated Burnley 3–3 on January 1, 2015, Sissoko's second league goal of the season. Sissoko was dismissed from a home match at Liverpool on March 13, 2015, after a controversial tackle to Lucas Leiva. He scored the first goal in Newcastle's 2–0 home win over West Ham United on May 24, 2015, their final day of the season.

Sissoko was captain for the final six games of the season, and he scored his first game as captain on April 16, 2016, defeating Swansea City 3–0. This culminated in a six-game unbeaten run in Newcastle's relegation match, which included good draws against Liverpool and Manchester City as well as a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on day 5-1. Despite this, Newcastle were unable to get out of the drop zone and were relegated to the Championship.

Sissoko signed Tottenham Hotspur for a five-year contract on August 31, 2016. Sissoko's debut away at Stoke City on September 10, 2016, after he beat Everton for his signature on the final day of the transfer deadline. Sissoko elbowed Harry Arter in a match against AFC Bournemouth on October 22nd, resulting in a three-match suspension. He did not play a single match for Spurs until December 3rd, and he got off to a slow start in the Premier League this season under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Following a disappointing first season with Tottenham Hotspur, Sissoko was given a long run in the team's inaugural season, 2017--18 season, despite several injuries in the midfield. In a 3–2 victory over West Ham on September 23, he got his fourth start in six Premier League games, with Pochettino referring to his "fantastic" and scoring his first goal for Tottenham in their 4–0 victory over Huddersfield Town.

Sissoko made a name for herself in the 2018--19 season by playing 43 times in all competitions. Several writers have lauded his progress this season, some of whom have ranked him among the top players of the season in the Premier League. Former players and followers alike have lauded him for their service. In May 2019, he received the inaugural Tottenham Hotspur Legend of the Season award. Sissoko's arm was struck by the ball in the final of the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League after 22 seconds. Judged a handball, resulting in a penalty converted by Liverpool and one that Tottenham could not overcome, ultimately losing 2–0.

Sissoko scored his first goal in over two years against Bournemouth in the 2019-20-20 season under new boss José Mourinho. This is his second Premier League goal for Tottenham Hotspur, and he helped the team win by 3–2 on their second attempt. Sissoko strained his medial collateral ligament in his right knee in the match against Southampton in 2020, resulting in him being out of action for more than three months. However, he did not participate in any games until the 19th of June, the season's first match against Manchester United, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the suspension of League matches.

Sissoko scored his first goal of the 2020-21 season in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on January 5, 2021, beating Brentford 2–0.

Sissoko joined Watford on a two-year deal on August 27, 2021. He made his debut two days later against his former club Tottenham Hotspur in a 1–0 loss. Moussa Sissoko's Watford side was set to be relegated this season, so it was likely to be an ill-fated move.

Sissoko returned to France and joined Nantes on July 1st 2022.

International career

Sissoko has been involved with France at youth level, having represented France at all levels for which he was eligible. In a friendly match against Turkey in Manisa on January 4, 2005, he made his youth international debut at under-16 level. France triumphed the match 3–0. Sissoko's only other appearance with the team came in the return leg against Turkey, which was played in zmir two days later.

Sissoko's playing time increased with the under-17 team, as France continued to qualify for the 2006 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship. In the team's first competitive match against England on November 2, he made his debut as a substitute on November 2nd. Sissoko scored his first youth international goal in the team's second group stage match of the Algarve Cup against the Netherlands on February 26, 2006. Sissoko scored once more in the team's next group stage match against Portugal, winning by 3–1. Sissoko and the team, made up of players such as David N'Gog, Gabriel Obertan, Adel Taarabt, and Grégory Sertic, failed to qualify for the 2006 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, despite their second-place finish in the Elite Round portion of the competition. Sissoko was active in all eight matches as France nearly went undefeated after losing their first match 1–0 to Germany in Kehl, with the under-18 team.

Sissoko missed the 2007 edition of the Sendai Cup in Japan and several other under-19 tournaments, and only appeared in 2008 UEFA U-19 Championship qualification matches due to his increased playing time with Toulouse. In the first qualifying round of qualifying, he made his debut on October 28, 2007 in a 5–0 victory over Luxembourg. France was then eliminated in the Elite Round portion of the competition, which was similar to the one under-17 years. On September 9, 2008, Sissoko earned his first call up to the under-21 squad for their friendly match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He made his international debut in the match, which France lost 1–0. In the team's 2–0 victory over England at the City Ground in Nottingham on 31 March 2009, Sissoko scored his only goal with the team. He worked with the team often as they were trying to qualify for the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. Despite Sissoko's under-21 career, the team's ultimate failure to qualify for the tournament effectively ended Sissoko's under-21 career, the team's under-21s, although he did appear in friendly matches against Turkey, Denmark, and Russia in 2010 as he was still eligible to play in non-competitive tournaments.

Sissoko received his first call up to the senior team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match against the Faroe Islands on August 3rd. Sissoko made his debut in the match but not in the first round. He was appointed to the senior squad of the Faroe Islands and Austria for the second time in the team's final World Cup qualification matches against the Faroe Islands and Austria on October 6th. Sissoko made his debut in the match against the Faroe Islands as a replacement for Jérémy Toulalan in the second half. France defeated France 5–0 in the match. Sissoko made his first appearance in the match against Austria, which France defeated 3-1, with France already secured a spot in the play-offs. Despite being in the squad under Raymond Domenech from 2009-2010, Sissoko was unable to make the 2010 FIFA World Cup squad.

Sissoko was selected in Didier Deschamps' squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup on May 13th. He made his FIFA World Cup debut in 2014, serving as a replacement in France's 3–0 group victory over Honduras. He was named in the starting lineup of France's second match of the tournament, a 5–2 victory over Switzerland, and scored his first international goal.

Sissoko was involved in France's promotion to the final of the 2016 UEFA European Championship, earning four appearances in the tournament. In the 1–0 extra time loss, he put on an inspired showing in the final against Portugal, saving two shots.

He was selected on the standby list for the 23-man French squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia on May 17th. He did not make it to the French squad that won the World Cup due to his poor team form. However, despite his solid club results in the 2018-2019 season, he was back in the national squad and played in France's Euro 2020 qualifiers.

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