Ismaïla Sarr

Ismaïla Sarr (born 25 February 1998) is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Ligue 1 club Marseille and the Senegal national team.

Ismaila Sarr
Sarr in 2022
Personal information
Full name Ismaïla Sarr[1]
Date of birth (1998-02-25) 25 February 1998[2]
Place of birth Saint-Louis, Senegal
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Marseille
Number 23
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– Marseille 7 (3)
International career‡
2015 Senegal U23 3 (0)
2016– Senegal 54 (11)
Medal record
Representing  Senegal
Men's football
Africa Cup of Nations
Winner2021 Cameroon
Runner-up2019 Egypt
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:02, 21 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:26, 20 June 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Early career

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

Metz

On 13 July 2016, Sarr signed his first professional contract with FC Metz for five years.[4] He made his league debut on 13 August 2016 against Lille OSC at Stade Saint-Symphorien, the FC Metz's home ground, which Metz won by 3–2. In this match, he played 20 minutes, after he was substituted for Florent Mollet.[5]

Rennes

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.[6][7] He picked the transfer to Rennes over a move to FC Barcelona.[8]

On 13 December 2018, Sarr scored twice in the second half (including a penalty), as Rennes clinched their place in the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League knockout phase with a (Group K, Matchday 6) 2–0 home win over FC Astana.[9]

Watford

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[10] and reported as "in the region of €30 million.[11] He scored his first goal for Watford in an EFL Cup tie against Coventry City on 27 August 2019.[12]

On 29 February 2020, Sarr picked up two goals and an assist in Watford's 3–0 home victory over defending UEFA Champions League winners Liverpool, handing them their first defeat of the 2019–20 season and ending the club's 44-match unbeaten league run.[13]

On 24 April 2021, Sarr scored from the penalty spot in Watford’s 1–0 home win over Millwall in the Championship, sealing Watford’s return to the Premier League after one season.[14] Sarr ended as Watford’s top scorer for the 2020–21 season, scoring thirteen goals.[15]

He continued from where he left off as he scored in Watford's 3–2 win against Aston Villa in their opening game of the 2021–22 Premier League season.[16]

Marseille

On 24 July 2023, Sarr joined French club Marseille for an undisclosed fee.[17][18]

International career
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.[19] 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.[20] 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.[21]

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.[22] He played the full 90 minutes of the final on 19 July 2019, as they lost 1–0 to Algeria.[23]

In November 2019, he suffered an ankle injury whilst on international duty.[24]

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.[25][26]

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.[27]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 18 August 2023[28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Metz 2016–17 Ligue 1 3150020—335
Rennes 2017–18 Ligue 1 2451020—275
2018–19 Ligue 1 35851109[lower-alpha 1]45013
Total 59136130947718
Watford 2019–20 Premier League 2850021—306
2020–21 Championship 39131000—4013
2021–22 Premier League 2250000—225
2022–23 Championship 39100000—3910
Total 128331021—13134
Marseille 2023–24 Ligue 1 2000—2[lower-alpha 2]040
Career total 22051717111424557
  1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International
As of match played 20 June 2023[29]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Senegal 201610
201792
2018101
201991
202031
202184
2022122
202320
Total5411
Scores and results list Senegal's goal tally first.[29]
List of international goals scored by Ismaïla Sarr
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
18 January 2017Stade Municipal de Kintélé, Brazzaville, Congo Libya2–12–1Friendly
25 September 2017Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Burkina Faso1–12–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
38 June 2018Gradski Vrt Stadium, Osijek, Croatia Croatia1–01–2Friendly
41 July 201930 June Stadium, Cairo, Egypt Kenya1–03–02019 Africa Cup of Nations
59 October 2020Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco Morocco1–31–3Friendly
65 June 2021Stade Lat-Dior, Thiès, Senegal Zambia3–03–1Friendly
77 September 2021Stade Alphonse Massamba-Débat, Brazzaville, Congo Congo2–13–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
814 November 2021Stade Lat-Dior, Thiès, Senegal Congo1–02–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
92–0
1030 January 2022Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon Equatorial Guinea3–13–12021 Africa Cup of Nations
1129 November 2022Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar Ecuador1–02–12022 FIFA World Cup


Honours

Rennes

Senegal

Individual

Orders

References
  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. "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. "Transferts : Ismaïla Sarr s'engage officiellement avec Rennes". L'Équipe (in French). 26 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  7. Okeleji, Oluwashina (27 July 2017). "Senegal's Ismaila Sarr 'rejects Barcelona' for Rennes move". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  8. "Senegal's Ismaila Sarr 'rejects Barcelona' for Rennes move". BBC Sport. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  9. "Rennes beat Astana to go through, Bordeaux out". www.ligue1.com. 13 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  10. Sansom, Dan (8 August 2019). "Watford sign Rennes winger Ismaila Sarr for club-record fee". Sky Sports. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  11. Gray, Ryan (8 August 2019). "Watford have announced the signing of Ismaila Sarr from Rennes". Watford Observer. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  12. "Watford 3-0 Coventry". BBC. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  13. Mott, Ryan. "Watford beat Liverpool to end 27-match unbeaten run". OneFootball. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  14. Stevens, Rob (24 April 2021). "Watford 1–0 Millwall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  15. "2020-21 Watford Stats, Championship". FBref.com. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  16. "Watford vs Aston Villa LIVE!". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  17. "Official: Farewell Sarr". Watford F.C. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  18. "Ismaïla Sarr is Olympien!". Olympique de Marseille. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  19. "CAF - Competitions - U-23 Africa Cup of Nations - Team Details - Player Details - Ismaïla Sarr". cafonline.com. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  20. "Sénégal : première convocation pour le jeune attaquant de Metz Ismaïla Sarr". lequipe.fr. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  21. Crawford, Stephen (4 June 2018). "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - Final 23-man lists". Goal. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  22. "Senegal, Algeria set for rematch in Afcon final". eNCA. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  23. "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.
  24. "2021 Africa Cup of Nations: Senegal await Ismaila Sarr injury verdict". BBC Sport. 16 November 2019.
  25. "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.
  26. "Senegal 0-0 Egypt". BBC Sport. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  27. "Cash prizes, real estate, and highest honours as Senegal celebrates Nations Cup heroes". Reuters. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  28. Ismaïla Sarr at Soccerway
  29. "Sarr, Ismaïla". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  30. "Rennes 2 PSG 2 (6-5 on penalties)". BBC Sport. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  31. "Africa Cup of Nations final: Mane with winning penalty as Senegal beat Egypt on penalties". BBC Sport. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  32. "Algeria win Africa Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  33. "Ismaila Sarr wins Goal of the Season". English Football League. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  34. "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.
  35. Oludare, Shina (12 May 2021). "Ismaila Sarr: Senegal striker scoops Watford awards". Goal. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
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