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Ismaïla Sarr

Ismaïla Sarr (born 25 February 1998) is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a winger or forward for Premier League club Crystal Palace and the Senegal national team.

Ismaïla Sarr
Sarr in 2022
Personal information
Full name Ismaïla Sarr[1]
Date of birth (1998-02-25) 25 February 1998 (age 26)[2]
Place of birth Saint-Louis, Senegal
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger, forward
Team information
Current team
 Crystal Palace
Number 7
Youth career
2009–2016 Génération Foot
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Metz 31 (5)
2017–2019 Rennes 59 (13)
2019–2023 Watford 128 (33)
2023–2024 Marseille 23 (3)
2024– Crystal Palace 12 (1)
International career‡
2015 Senegal U23 3 (0)
2016– Senegal 69 (14)
Medal record
Representing  Senegal
Men's football
Africa Cup of Nations
Winner 2021 Cameroon
Runner-up 2019 Egypt
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 November 2024

Club career

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Early career

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Born in Saint-Louis, Senegal, Sarr started his football career with Senegalese football club Génération Foot.[3]

Metz

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On 13 July 2016, Sarr signed his first professional contract with FC Metz for five years.[4] He made his league debut as a substitute in a 3–2 win against Lille OSC on 13 August, in Metz's first match of the 2016–17 Ligue 1 season.[5] He made his first professional start in a 3–0 win at FC Nantes on 11 September.[6]

On 8 February 2017, Sarr scored his first Ligue 1 goal in a 2–1 win against Dijon FCO.[6] He went on to score four more goals in his final eight appearances of the season, ending 2016–17 with five goals and five assists from 31 league appearances.[6]

Rennes

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On 26 July 2017, Sarr signed a four-year contract with Ligue 1 side Rennes. The transfer fee paid to Metz was reported as €17 or 20 million, depending on the source.[7][8] Sarr claimed that he had chosen to sign for Rennes ahead of FC Barcelona, saying: "I could have gone to Spain and join the great Barcelona, but leaving Metz to join them was too early. I saw Rennes as a club that will help me progress and reach great heights".[9]

2017–18 season

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Sarr made his debut for Rennes in the team's 2017–18 season opener against ES Troyes AC on 5 August 2017 and scored his first goal against FC Toulouse on 26 August.[10]

His first season at the Breton club was curtailed by a malleolus fracture sustained in a match against AS Saint-Étienne on 24 September.[11] On 28 September, it was announced by coach Christian Gourcuff that Sarr's injury would require surgery that would prevent him from playing until 2018.[12]

Sarr ended the season with five goals and five assists from 24 Ligue 1 appearances[10] as Rennes finished in fifth place and qualified for the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League.[13]

2018–19 season

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During the 2018–19 season, Sarr made his UEFA Europa League debut, scoring the opening goal of a 2–1 against Czech club FK Jablonec on 20 September 2018. This goal was later included on a shortlist of ten for UEFA Goal of the Season.[14][15] On 13 December 2018, he scored twice, as Rennes clinched qualified for the knockout phase with a 2–0 home win over FC Astana.[16] His fourth Europa League goal of the season came from a header against Arsenal in a 3–1 round of 16 first leg win on 7 March 2019.[17] However, on 14 March, Rennes lost the second leg in London 3–0 and were eliminated.[18]

In Ligue 1, Sarr scored eight goals and registered six assists.[15] His form saw him nominated for the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Season award.[15]

He also made a significant contribution to Rennes winning their first Coupe de France in 48 years.[19] On 6 January 2019, he scored the equalising goal in a 2–2 draw with Stade Brestois 29 and scored in the subsequent penalty shootout that took the team through to the fourth round of the tournament.[20] On 2 April, he assisted Senegalese teammate M'Baye Niang's opening goal in an eventual 3–2 semi-final win against Olympique Lyonnais.[21] Rennes went on to face Paris Saint Germain at the Stade de France in the 2019 Coupe de France Final on 27 April, with Sarr scoring the winning kick of the penalty shootout after the underdogs had recovered from a 2–0 deficit to draw 2–2 during regulation time.[22]

Overall, Sarr scored 18 goals and registered 16 assists from 77 appearances for Rennes.[23]

Watford

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On 8 August 2019, Sarr joined Premier League club Watford on a five-year contract. The transfer fee paid to Rennes was a club record for Watford[24] and reported as "in the region of €30 million.[25]

2019–20 season

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Sarr made his debut for Watford as a substitute in a 3–1 Premier League defeat to West Ham United at Vicarage Road on 24 August 2019.[26] Three days later, on his first start for Watford, he scored his first goal in English football in an EFL Cup tie against Coventry City.[27]

On 30 November 2019, Sarr scored his first Premier League goal in a 2–1 loss at Southampton.[28] On 22 December, he was voted man of the match in Watford's 2–0 home win over Manchester United – a match in which he scored the opening goal and was fouled for the penalty kick that was converted by captain Troy Deeney.[29][30]

On 29 February 2020, Sarr scored twice and assisted Deeney's third goal in Watford's 3–0 home victory over defending European Champions Liverpool, handing them their first defeat of the 2019–20 season and ending the club's 44-match unbeaten league run.[31]

On 26 July, Watford were relegated to the EFL Championship after losing 3–2 to Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in their final match of the season.[32] Sarr ended 2019–20 with five goals and four assists in the Premier League.[33]

2020–21 season

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During 2020–21, Sarr scored thirteen goals and provided ten assists,[34] winning Watford's Player of the Season.[35] On 24 April 2021, he scored the only goal of a 1–0 win over Millwall which ensured Watford's promotion back to the Premier League.[36]

2021–22 season

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Sarr started 2021–22 by scoring five goals in the opening twelve Premier League matches.[37] This included scoring once in a 3–2 win against Aston Villa in the opening game of the season,[38] twice in a 3–1 win at Norwich City,[39] once in a 1–1 draw at home to Newcastle United,[40] and once in a 4–1 home win over Manchester United.[41] However, Sarr struggled with injury for the rest of the season[33][34][42] and did not score in his final ten appearances[33] as Watford were relegated for the second time in three seasons.[43][44]

2022–23 season

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On 8 August 2022, Sarr scored a goal from his own half in a 1–1 draw with West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.[45] The goal was later awarded EFL Championship Goal of the Season.[43] On 5 October, he played his 100th match for Watford, scoring in a 2–1 loss to Swansea City.[34]

Sarr ended the season with 10 goals from 39 matches in all competitions.[46]

During his four seasons at Watford he scored a 34 goals from 131 appearances.[46]

Marseille

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On 24 July 2023, Sarr joined French club Olympique de Marseille for an undisclosed fee.[46][47]

Sarr made his debut for Marseille in a 1–0 loss to Panathinaikos in a UEFA Champions League qualifier on 9 August.[48] He scored his first goal in a 2–0 Ligue 1 win over Brest at the Stade Vélodrome on 26 August.[49]

Crystal Palace

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On 1 August 2024, Sarr returned to the Premier League, signing for Crystal Palace.[50] It was confirmed on 10 August he would wear the number 7 shirt, replacing departing winger Michael Olise. On 27 August, he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–0 EFL Cup win over Norwich City; the goal, initially attributed to Eberechi Eze, was awarded to Sarr a week later.[51]

International career

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Sarr playing for Senegal in 2021 Africa Cup of Nations

Sarr has represented his country with the Senegal U23 national team. In 2015, he played in 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.[52] At that time, his age was only 17. He contributed that Senegal finished the competition in a fourth place, playing three games.

He played for the first time with Senegal national team for a match against Namibia in September 2016 in Dakar (2–0) for 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, for which Senegal had already qualified. As a symbol, he came into play in the 67th minute in place of the former resident of Génération Foot and Metz, Sadio Mané.[53] On 8 January 2017, Sarr scored his first international goal in a friendly match against Libya in Stade Municipal de Kintélé, Brazzaville.

In May 2018, he was named in Senegal's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[54]

In 2019, Sarr was part of the Senegal squad that reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, for only the second time in the nation's history.[55] He played the full 90 minutes of the final on 19 July 2019, as they lost 1–0 to Algeria.[56]

Sarr was part of Senegal's squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations; the Lions of Teranga went on to win the tournament for the first time in their history.[57][58] He scored once in a 3–1 win over Equatorial Guinea at the quarter-final stage.[59]

He was appointed a Grand Officer of the National Order of the Lion by President of Senegal Macky Sall following the nation's victory at the tournament.[60]

Sarr started all four of Senegal's matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, scoring in a 2–1 win over Ecuador that qualified the nation for the round of 16 for the first time since its debut in 2002.[61]

In December 2023, he was named in Senegal's squad for the postponed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held in the Ivory Coast.[62]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 23 November 2024[63]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Metz 2016–17 Ligue 1 31 5 0 0 2 0 — 33 5
Rennes 2017–18 Ligue 1 24 5 1 0 2 0 — 27 5
2018–19 Ligue 1 35 8 5 1 1 0 9[c] 4 50 13
Total 90 18 6 1 5 0 9 4 110 23
Watford 2019–20 Premier League 28 5 0 0 2 1 — 30 6
2020–21 Championship 39 13 1 0 0 0 — 40 13
2021–22 Premier League 22 5 0 0 0 0 — 22 5
2022–23 Championship 39 10 0 0 0 0 — 39 10
Total 128 33 1 0 2 1 — 131 34
Marseille 2023–24 Ligue 1 23 3 0 0 — 12[d] 1 35 4
Crystal Palace 2024–25 Premier League 12 1 0 0 3 1 — 15 2
Career total 253 55 7 1 10 2 21 5 291 63
  1. ^ Includes Coupe de France, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes Coupe de la Ligue, EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, ten appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League

International

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As of match played 14 November 2024[64]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Senegal 2016 1 0
2017 9 2
2018 10 1
2019 9 1
2020 3 1
2021 8 4
2022 12 2
2023 4 0
2024 13 3
Total 69 14
Scores and results list Senegal's goal tally first.[64]
List of international goals scored by Ismaïla Sarr
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 8 January 2017 Stade Municipal de Kintélé, Brazzaville, Congo   Libya 2–1 2–1 Friendly
2 5 September 2017 Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso   Burkina Faso 1–1 2–2 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 8 June 2018 Gradski Vrt Stadium, Osijek, Croatia   Croatia 1–0 1–2 Friendly
4 1 July 2019 30 June Stadium, Cairo, Egypt   Kenya 1–0 3–0 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
5 9 October 2020 Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco   Morocco 1–3 1–3 Friendly
6 5 June 2021 Stade Lat-Dior, Thiès, Senegal   Zambia 3–0 3–1 Friendly
7 7 September 2021 Stade Alphonse Massamba-Débat, Brazzaville, Congo   Congo 2–1 3–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 14 November 2021 Stade Lat-Dior, Thiès, Senegal   Congo 1–0 2–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 2–0
10 30 January 2022 Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon   Equatorial Guinea 3–1 3–1 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
11 29 November 2022 Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar   Ecuador 1–0 2–1 2022 FIFA World Cup
12 19 January 2024 Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast   Cameroon 1–0 3–1 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
13 6 June 2024 Diamniadio Olympic Stadium, Diamniadio, Senegal   DR Congo 1–0 1–1 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
14 9 September 2024 Bingu National Stadium, Lilongwe, Malawi   Burundi 1–0 1–0 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

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Rennes

Senegal

Individual

Orders

References

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  1. ^ "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Ismaïla Sarr". Premier League. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Football : Ismaïla Sarr". footballdatebase.eu. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Ismaïla Sarr s'engage pour 5 ans !" [Ismaïla Sarr has signed for five seasons.] (in French). fcmetz.com. 13 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Metz vs. Lille - 13 August 2016 - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  6. ^ a b c "ISMAÏLA SARR". FC Metz (in French). Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Transferts : Ismaïla Sarr s'engage officiellement avec Rennes". L'Équipe (in French). 26 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  8. ^ Okeleji, Oluwashina (27 July 2017). "Senegal's Ismaila Sarr 'rejects Barcelona' for Rennes move". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Senegal's Ismaila Sarr 'rejects Barcelona' for Rennes move". BBC Sport. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Ismaila SARR (OM) - Ligue 1 Uber Eats". Ligue 1. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Stade Rennais. Opération de la malléole pour Ismaïla Sarr, trois mois d'arrêt". Ouest-France (in French). 28 September 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Le Rennais Ismaila Sarr absent trois mois". L'Équipe (in French). 28 September 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
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  14. ^ "UEFA Goal of the Season: Shortlist for 2018/19 Award Revealed". Sports Illustrated. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  15. ^ a b c "'The first ball that Sarr chased into space made the whole stadium gasp because it was so special'". The Athletic. 5 August 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
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  17. ^ "Rennes 3-1 Arsenal: How it happened". Arsenal F.C. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
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  34. ^ a b c "News: Sarr Reaches A Century Of Appearances For The Hornets". Watford F.C. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  35. ^ "Official: Farewell Sarr". Watford F.C. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  36. ^ Stevens, Rob (24 April 2021). "Watford 1–0 Millwall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  37. ^ "Watford's Dennis and Sarr hand Manchester United heaviest loss against a newly-promoted club". Goal. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  38. ^ "Watford vs Aston Villa LIVE!". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  39. ^ "Ismaïla Sarr at the double as Watford sink pointless Norwich". The Guardian. 19 September 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  40. ^ "Watford's Ismaïla Sarr strikes again to deny winless Newcastle". The Guardian. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  41. ^ "Manchester United thrashed by Watford to leave Ole Gunnar Solskjær on brink". The Guardian. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
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  44. ^ "Crystal Palace 1-0 Watford: Hornets relegated from Premier League". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  45. ^ "West Brom 1-1 Watford: Ismaila Sarr scores from own half and misses penalty in entertaining draw at the Hawthorns". Sky Sports. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  46. ^ a b c "Official: Farewell Sarr". Watford F.C. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  47. ^ "Ismaïla Sarr is Olympien!". Olympique de Marseille. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  48. ^ "Anciens : Première À Oublier Pour Ismaila Sarr (Ex-FC Metz) En Ligue Des Champions". Socios FC Metz (in French). 10 August 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  49. ^ "Sarr scores as Marseille bounce back at the Velodrome". Ligue 1. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  50. ^ "Crystal Palace sign Ismaïla Sarr". cpfc.co.uk. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  51. ^ "Crystal Palace 4–0 Norwich City: Eagles cruise past Canaries into third round". cpfc.co.uk. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  52. ^ "CAF - Competitions - U-23 Africa Cup of Nations - Team Details - Player Details - Ismaïla Sarr". cafonline.com. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  53. ^ "Sénégal : première convocation pour le jeune attaquant de Metz Ismaïla Sarr". lequipe.fr. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  54. ^ Crawford, Stephen (4 June 2018). "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - Final 23-man lists". Goal. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  55. ^ "Senegal, Algeria set for rematch in Afcon final". eNCA. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  56. ^ "Algeria claim second Afcon title after Bounedjah's lucky strike sinks Senegal". theguardian.com. Guardian News & Media Limited. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  57. ^ "Cisse unveils Senegal squad, hopes for elusive TotalEnergies AFCON title". Confederation of African Football. 25 December 2021. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  58. ^ "Senegal 0-0 Egypt". BBC Sport. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  59. ^ "Senegal, Ismaila Sarr reaping reward of strong stance against Watford". ESPN. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  60. ^ a b "Cash prizes, real estate, and highest honours as Senegal celebrates Nations Cup heroes". Reuters. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  61. ^ "Senegal Squad". ESPN UK. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  62. ^ "Afcon 2023: Senegal and Sadio Mane set for defence of title". BBC Sport Africa. 29 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  63. ^ Ismaïla Sarr at Soccerway
  64. ^ a b "Sarr, Ismaïla". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  65. ^ "Rennes 2 PSG 2 (6-5 on penalties)". BBC Sport. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  66. ^ "Africa Cup of Nations final: Mane with winning penalty as Senegal beat Egypt on penalties". BBC Sport. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  67. ^ "Algeria win Africa Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  68. ^ "Ismaila Sarr wins Goal of the Season". English Football League. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  69. ^ "Top Ten Goals of the 2018/19 UEFA Europa League". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). 30 May 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  70. ^ a b Oludare, Shina (12 May 2021). "Ismaila Sarr: Senegal striker scoops Watford awards". Goal. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
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