Lebanon is a small country in West Asia bordering the Mediterranean Sea, with a land area of 10,400 square kilometres and a population of about 6.9 million. Among the countries in the Arab world, Lebanon is one of the late starters, with civil wars in the 1990s and unstable times in the new century, all walks of life are in a difficult and tortuous development, with a serious outflow of soccer talent.
Soccer, the number one sport in the world, has a high popularity in Lebanon. In terms of overall strength, Lebanon has been actively participating in FIFE tournaments since the 1990s, and is a fourth-rate team in Asia, which is not at a high level itself. At present, Lebanon's world ranking is 92, slightly behind the 75th ranked national football team.
In the Asian Cup, they have only reached the final round of the Asian Cup once in 2019, except for hosting a tournament to reach the final round in 2000. On the World Qualifying stage, the Lebanese have played a bit better, reaching the final stage of the Asian zone in both the past 2014 World Qualifying Tournament and the 2022 World Qualifying Tournament, which is still underway.
Lebanon can be said to have played very well in Group A of this year's Top 12 next door tournament. The group, with Iran first with 22 points from 8 games and South Korea second with 20 points from 8 games, are two Asian teams that have already locked their World Cup tickets, while the UAE with 9 points from 8 games and Lebanon with 6 points from 8 games are still struggling for the last hope of a play-off spot. Lebanon at least has a chance to fight for a World Cup ticket than the national football team that prepared for the 2026 World Cup early.
Who do you think of when you think of footballers from Lebanon? In this article, I will compile a list of the five most representative players in the history of Lebanese soccer for your reference. Of course, due to the limitation of space, if there are any debatable points or leftovers, you are welcome to share them in the comment section.
V. Basil Gerardi
Basel Jerald, 28 years old, is an attacking midfielder who is currently worth about 600,000 Euros, and has been in the 1 million Euros bracket in the past, making him the most valuable player in Lebanon in the past decade.
Of Lebanese origin and born in Denmark, he has played in Europe since childhood, in the Danish second division, Croatian second division and currently plays for Limassol FC, the leading team in the Cypriot top division. Since a few years ago, Basel Gerardi has been a representative figure of Lebanese soccer. Judging by his age, this handsome Lebanese youngster will probably play at least one more tournament cycle for Lebanon as a central midfielder.
IV. Hassan Matouk
Hassan Matouk, 34, a winger, is the current captain of the Lebanese national team and the all-time leading scorer. Since he was selected for the national team in 2006, he has played a total of 99 games and scored 21 goals, giving the impression that he is fast and has a strong impact.
In terms of club career, Hassan Maatouk has played mainly in Lebanon and UAE, leading his club to the Lebanese Super League championship several times in his career, and has been the Golden Boot of the Lebanese Super League twice as a winger. After replacing Antal as captain in 2016, Matouk has lived up to expectations, performing well in both the Asian and World Qualifiers and leading the national team to its best ever performance on both fronts.
III. Abbas Atwi
Abbas Atwi, who plays as a midfielder, can be said to be Lebanon's classic No. 10 player in the last soccer generation. Between 2002 and 2016, he scored 8 goals in 88 appearances for Lebanon in his national team career, and is the king of Lebanon's team history, and senior fans who have been following Asian FIFE tournaments for years may have heard of his name.
In terms of his club career, Abbas Atwi spent a long time playing for Lebanese Super League powerhouse Nezemer CF, where he left behind a magnificent statistic of 400 games and 100+ goals; after his peak, he went to other soccer leagues in the Arab world to seek gold. Currently, at the age of 42, he has not retired from football and plays for Al Ali in the Ligue 1.
Youssif Mohamed
Yousef Mohammed, who plays as a center back, is arguably the best backfield player in the history of Lebanese soccer. Back in 2004, at the age of 24, he started his journey to Germany and played in Germany for seven years, playing in the Bundesliga with Freiburg and Cologne.
In the 07-08 season, Yusuf Mohamed, who scored five goals in the Bundesliga, was one of the key contributors to Cologne's return to the Bundesliga the following year. After 2011, Yousef Mohamed went to the USE to retire. In the national team, he played 33 matches between 2000 and 2012, without scoring a goal.
I. Loda Antal
As a tall midfielder, Loda Antal was active from 1998 to 2015. After spending three years with the Lebanese domestic team Tadamotri, he spent a long time in Germany with Hamburg, Freiburg, Cologne and other teams in the peak of his European development. Finally, he retired in 2015.
In the Bundesliga, Loda Antal contributed 12 goals and 3 assists in 82 games, and in the Bundesliga B, he contributed 23 goals and 11 assists in 85 games, which makes him an Asian midfielder capable of playing in the lower reaches of the top five leagues. After growing older and moving to the Chinese Super League, he led Luneng's resurgence as a decorated player, winning the 2010 Chinese Super League title.
For the national team, Loda Antar contributed 20 goals in 58 games for Lebanon between 1998 and 2016, and is by far the first Lebanese footballer recognized by more fans and media.
About the Creator
Ba Kit
As a sports enthusiast, I hope more people share my love for sports and life.
Angels on the pitch.
In the heart of a bustling city, where the rhythm of life pulses through the streets like a steady heartbeat, there existed a small soccer field tucked away from the chaos. This field wasn't just any ordinary patch of grass; it was a sanctuary, a place where dreams took flight on the wings of determination and passion. It was here that the story of the angels of the pitch unfolded.At the crack of dawn, when the world was still cloaked in darkness, a group of young boys and girls would gather at the field, their cleats clicking against the pavement as they made their way to the hallowed ground. Among them was Alex, a talented midfielder with a heart of gold and feet that danced with grace across the turf.On one particular morning, as the sun began to peek over the horizon, Alex noticed something peculiar. A pair of worn-out cleats lay abandoned near the goalpost, as if waiting to be discovered. Intrigued, Alex approached the cleats and picked them up, examining them with curiosity. Despite their battered appearance, there was an air of magic about them, as if they held a story waiting to be told."Hey, check these out!" Alex called out to the others, holding up the cleats for all to see.The group gathered around, their eyes widening in wonder as they beheld the mysterious footwear. They had heard tales of legendary players who had once graced the field, but never had they come across such a tangible relic of the past."Maybe they belong to one of the angels," whispered Mia, the team's star striker, her voice barely above a breath."Angels?" scoffed Diego, the goalkeeper, a skeptic to the core. "There's no such thing."But Alex knew better. There was a magic in the air that morning, a sense of possibility that transcended the boundaries of belief. With a determined gleam in his eye, he slipped on the cleats, feeling a surge of energy course through his veins like electricity.As the team began their training session, something extraordinary happened. Alex moved with a newfound agility, his every step infused with the spirit of those who had come before him. With each pass and shot, he felt as if he were channeling the skill and wisdom of the angels of the pitch.As the days turned into weeks, Alex's teammates couldn't help but notice the change in him. His once tentative touches had been replaced by a confidence that bordered on the divine. It was as if he had been touched by an unseen hand, guided by forces beyond mortal comprehension.But with great power came great responsibility, and Alex knew that he couldn't keep the secret of the cleats to himself forever. So one evening, as the sun dipped below the skyline and the field was bathed in the soft glow of twilight, he gathered his teammates around him and revealed the truth."These cleats," he began, his voice steady with conviction, "they're not just ordinary shoes. They're a reminder of all those who have played on this field before us, of the angels who watch over us even now."The others listened in rapt silence as Alex recounted the legend of the angels of the pitch, of how they had once roamed the earth spreading joy and inspiration through the beautiful game of soccer. And as he spoke, they felt a sense of awe wash over them, as if they were being blessed by unseen hands.From that day forward, the cleats became more than just a pair of shoes; they became a symbol of hope and unity for the team. With each passing game, they would lace up their boots and take to the field with a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that they were not alone in their quest for victory.And so, the angels of the pitch continued to weave their magic, their presence felt in every pass, every tackle, every goal. For on that sacred ground, where dreams took flight and legends were born, they watched over their earthly counterparts with pride and affection, forever guiding them towards greatness.
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