Biography
Who is Ismaïla Sarr?
Early career and professional beginnings
Ismaïla Sarr began his football path in his hometown of Saint-Louis, Senegal. He developed his skills at the Génération Foot academy. In July 2016, he signed his first professional contract with FC Metz in France. He made his league debut as a substitute in August of that year during a match against Lille.
By September 2016, he had earned his first professional start. He scored his first Ligue 1 goal in February 2017 against Dijon. He finished the 2016-17 season with five goals and five assists from 31 league appearances. This performance established him as a regular player in the French top flight.
Move to Rennes and Watford
In July 2017, he transferred to Rennes on a four-year contract. His time in Brittany included several important moments, such as helping the team qualify for the 2018-19 UEFA Europa League. He played a key role in the 2019 Coupe de France success, scoring the winning penalty in the final match against Paris Saint-Germain.
Following his time in France, he moved to England to join Watford in August 2019. He was a key part of the squad, especially being named the team's Player of the Season during the 2020-21 campaign. He helped the club secure promotion back to the Premier League that year. In total, he scored 34 goals in 131 appearances for the club.
Success with Crystal Palace
After a season with Marseille in France, he returned to English football in August 2024 by signing with Crystal Palace. He quickly became an impact player for his new team. During the 2024-25 season, he played in the FA Cup final, where Crystal Palace defeated Manchester City to win the trophy. He also scored during the 2025 FA Community Shield victory against Liverpool.
He continued his strong form into the 2026 season. In April 2026, he scored the fastest goal in the UEFA Conference League after 21 seconds in a match against Shakhtar Donetsk. He was the top goalscorer and was named the best player as Crystal Palace won the UEFA Conference League title that year.
International career with Senegal
Ismaïla Sarr has been a member of the Senegal national association football team since making his senior debut in 2016. He has represented his country in multiple major international tournaments.
This includes appearances at the FIFA World Cup in 2018, 2022, and 2026. He has also played in several editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, specifically in 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025. He was part of the squad that won the 2021 tournament.
Birthday and age
Ismaïla Sarr was born on February 25, 1998, which makes Ismaïla 28 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Ismaïla shares the date with 32 other famous people.
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