Almoez Ali

Ali was born in Sudan and moved to Qatar as a child.{{cite web |title=Asian Cup: Qatar beats Saudi Arabia in first meeting on pitch since blockade |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/asian-cup-qatar-beat-saudi-arabia-gulf-grudge-match-849854291 |website=Middle East Eye}}{{cite web |title=A Copa da Ásia define seus mata-matas, com o Catar surpreendendo como melhor da fase de grupos {{!}} Trivela |date=17 January 2019 |url=https://trivela.com.br/a-copa-da-asia-define-seus-mata-matas-com-o-catar-surpreendendo-como-melhor-da-fase-de-grupos |language=pt |access-date=29 January 2019 |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417184913/https://trivela.com.br/a-copa-da-asia-define-seus-mata-matas-com-o-catar-surpreendendo-como-melhor-da-fase-de-grupos/ |url-status=dead }} He started playing for Al-Mesaimeer when he was 7 years old, then moved to Aspire Academy and played youth football at Lekhwiya SC.{{cite web |title=المعز علي: لم أتوقع فوزي كأفضل لاعب صاعد |date=20 May 2017 |url=https://www.al-sharq.com/article/20/05/2017/المعز-علي-لم-أتوقع-فوزي-كأفضل-لاعب-صاعد}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lask.at/en/team/almoez-abdulla|title=AlMoez 'AlMoez' Ali Abdulla (32) Forward|publisher=LASK Linz|access-date=24 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802121201/http://www.lask.at/en/team/almoez-abdulla|archive-date=2 August 2015|url-status=dead}} He was also a part of the youth setup for Belgian club Eupen in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://as-eupen.be/katar-mit-6-kas-spielern/|title=Katar mit 6 KAS-Spielern|publisher=KAS Eupen|language=de|date=5 June 2015|access-date=24 January 2016}}

In July 2015, Ali joined the senior team of Austrian club LASK.{{cite web|url=http://www.nifs.no/personprofil.php?land=40&u=671204&t=80&person_id=137784|title=Almoez Ali|publisher=Norsk Internasjonal Fotballstatistikk|access-date=24 December 2015}} His first and only Austrian Bundesliga league goal for the club's first team came on 27 November 2015 against Floridsdorfer AC, becoming the second Qatari to score a league goal in Austria’s top league, after Adel Jadoua Ali.{{cite web|url=http://dirette.sport.repubblica.it/diretta/calcio/AUS_ERSL/mondo-234412?refresh_cens|title=LASK Linz-Floridsdorfer AC|publisher=Republica Sport|date=27 November 2015|access-date=24 January 2016}}

In January 2016, Ali left the club and joined Cultural Leonesa in Spain's third tier, the Segunda División B.{{cite web|url=http://www.fussball-imnetz.at/16459_duo_verlaesst_den_lask|title=Duo verlässt den LASK|publisher=Fussball Imnetz|author=Marcel Yildiz|language=de|date=4 January 2016}} On 3 April 2016, he scored his first goal for Cultural Leonesa in a 1–0 victory over Arandina,{{cite web|url=http://www.diariodeburgos.es/noticia/Z9F24F0F5-F509-3B30-06830EB7C44FED62/20160403/arandinacultural/leonesa/directo|title=Continúa la mala racha ribereña|publisher=Diario de Burgos|date=3 April 2016|access-date=6 October 2017}} becoming the first Qatari footballer ever to score in a Spanish league.{{cite web |title=Entrevista. Ali Almoez: "Quiero subir a Segunda el próximo año" |url=https://www.vavel.com/es/futbol/2016/04/10/segunda-b/631027-ali-almoez-quiero-subir-a-segunda-el-proximo.html |website=VAVEL |language=es |date=10 April 2016}}

File:Almoez Ali.jpg in 2018]]

Ali rejoined his former youth club Lekhwiya SC for the 2016–17 season. He scored his first goal for the club on 27 September 2016 in a 5–4 win against Muaither.{{cite web |title=Lekhwiya set early pace |url=https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/27/09/2016/Lekhwiya-set-early-pace |website=www.thepeninsulaqatar.com|date=27 September 2016 }} He went on to make 25 appearances and scoring 8 goals, as well as providing 8 assists and being awarded as the best U23 player of the season as his club won the Qatar Stars League.{{cite web |title=Almoez Ali wins best U23 player award |url=https://www.qsl.qa/en/news/almoez-ali-wins-best-u23-player-award |website=Qatar Stars League |date=20 May 2017 |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-date=13 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613152344/https://www.qsl.qa/en/news/almoez-ali-wins-best-u23-player-award |url-status=dead }}

In the following season, Ali was part of the newly rebranded Al-Duhail, as his former club was merged with El Jaish, and was part of the unbeaten 2017–18 Qatar Stars League title campaign.{{cite web |title=Undefeated Al Duhail secure sixth Qatar Stars League title |url=http://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/undefeated-al-duhail-secure-sixth-qatar-stars-league-title |website=www.the-afc.com}}

Ali unofficially made his inaugural appearance for the senior national team in a friendly against Bahrain in December 2013. The match was not recognized by FIFA.{{cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/54358/Almoez_Ali_Abdulla.html|title=Abdulla, Almoez Ali|website=national-football-teams.com}}

In 2014, Ali was a part of the Qatar U19 team that won the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship. In 2015, he was part of the Qatar U20 squad for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He played in the three group stage matches, but Qatar did not advance to the knockout stage.{{cite web |title=FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 - Matches - Qatar-Colombia |url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=271602/match=300269545/report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602054755/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=271602/match=300269545/report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 June 2015 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 - Matches - Qatar-Portugal |url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=271602/match=300269529/report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621233221/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=271602/match=300269529/report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 June 2015 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 - Matches - Senegal-Qatar |url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=271602/match=300269564/report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608204800/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=271602/match=300269564/report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 June 2015 |language=en}}

On 8 August 2016, Ali made his official senior debut for the national team as a substitute in 2–1 win against Iraq.{{cite web |title=Qatar vs. Iraq - Football Match Summary - August 8, 2016 - ESPN |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/match?gameId=463796 |language=en}} Furthermore, he was the top scorer in the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship with six goals and played an instrumental role in Qatar's third-place ranking.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1018446/afc-asian-cup-2019-qatar-almoez-ali-akram-afif-4-goals-2022-world-cup-korea/|title=AFC Asian Cup 2019: Almoez Ali and Akram Afif – Qatar's hopes for 2022 World Cup|author=Adwaidh Rajan|publisher=Fox Sports Asia|date=14 January 2019|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415183712/https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1018446/afc-asian-cup-2019-qatar-almoez-ali-akram-afif-4-goals-2022-world-cup-korea/|url-status=dead}}

File:QAT-UAE 20190129 Asian Cup 2.jpg at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup semi-final.|alt=|left]]

Ali was selected for Qatar's squad in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. He found the net in his team's first group stage game against Lebanon. In the next game against North Korea, he scored a four goals in a span of 51 minutes,{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1018380/afc-asian-cup-2019-qatar-striker-almoez-ali-sets-new-afc-asian-cup-record-in-qatars-6-0-demolition-of-dpr-korea/|title=AFC Asian Cup 2019: Almoez Ali sets new AFC Asian Cup record in Qatar's 6–0 demolition of DPR Korea|publisher=Fox Sports Asia|date=13 January 2019|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415202848/https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1018380/afc-asian-cup-2019-qatar-striker-almoez-ali-sets-new-afc-asian-cup-record-in-qatars-6-0-demolition-of-dpr-korea/|url-status=dead}} the second fastest time to four goals after Iranian Ali Daei, who scored four goals in 23 minutes against South Korea in the 1996 AFC Asian Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/403883/Moments-and-Milestones-Ali-Daei-s-23-minute-masterclass|title=Moments and Milestones: Ali Daei's 23 minute masterclass|publisher=Tehran Times|date=1 July 2016|access-date=19 January 2019}}

The following match, against Saudi Arabia, he increased his tally in the competition to seven goals after scoring both goals in the 2–0 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.afp.com/en/news/3955/shiotani-fires-japan-past-uzbeks-qatars-ali-downs-saudis-doc-1cc40t3|title=Shiotani fires Japan past Uzbeks, Qatar's Ali downs Saudis|publisher=AFP|date=17 January 2019|access-date=18 January 2019}} In doing so, he became the joint-top scorer in the AFC Asian Cup Group Stage, sharing the record with Ali Daei of Iran, Choi Soon-ho of South Korea and Naohiro Takahara of Japan. He also broke Mansour Muftah's all-time record of five goals scored for the Qatar national team in the AFC Asian Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.insideworldfootball.com/2019/01/18/stats-almoez-double-saudi-sets-new-marks-asian-cup-history/|title=Stats: Almoez strikes against Saudi set new marks in Asian Cup history|publisher=Inside World Football|author=Abdelaziz Abuhamar|date=18 January 2019|access-date=18 January 2019}}

In the semi-final against United Arab Emirates, Ali scored his eighth goal of the competition in a 4–0 win, equalling Ali Daei's mark established in 1996 as the most goals scored in a single AFC Asian Cup edition.{{cite web |title=Qatar's Almoez Ali equals tournament record goal tally |url=http://www.the-afc.com/asiancup/news/qatar-s-almoez-ali-equals-tournament-record-goal-tally |website=www.the-afc.com}} He broke that record in the following game after scoring the opening goal with a bicycle kick at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Final match against Japan.{{cite web |title=AFC Asian Cup 2019: Japan 0-1 Qatar - Almoez Ali (12') |url=https://www.foxsportsasia.com/videos/afc-asian-cup-2019-japan-0-1-qatar-almoez-ali-12/ |website=FOX Sports Asia |access-date=1 February 2019 |archive-date=9 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109093627/https://www.foxsportsasia.com/videos/afc-asian-cup-2019-japan-0-1-qatar-almoez-ali-12/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/feb/01/qatar-stun-japan-with-3-1-win-to-be-crowned-asian-cup-champions |title =Qatar stun Japan with 3-1 win to be crowned Asian Cup champions|date=1 February 2019|work=Guardian|access-date=5 February 2019}}

On 30 January 2019, soon after the 4–0 defeat at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup semifinal, the UAE FA lodged a formal appeal to the AFC over the eligibility of Sudanese-born Almoez Ali and Iraqi-born Bassam Al-Rawi, claiming that they did not qualify to play for Qatar on residency grounds based on Article 7 of the FIFA statute {{cite web |title=FIFA STATUTES April 2015 edition |url=https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/7997491946d85267/original/qcpshqziazmnmikh6tk5-pdf.pdf}} which states that a player's eligibility to play for a representative team if he has "lived continuously for at least five years after reaching the age of 18 on the territory of the relevant association". It was alleged that Almoez had not lived continuously in Qatar for at least five years over the age of 18, although the player claimed that his mother was born in Qatar.{{cite web |title=UAE lodge formal protest with AFC over eligibility of two Qatar players at Asian Cup |url=https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/uae-lodge-formal-protest-with-afc-over-eligibility-of-two-qatar-players-at-asian-cup-1.820102 |website=The National |date=31 January 2019 |language=en}} On 1 February 2019, the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee dismissed the protest lodged by the United Arab Emirates Football Association without further comments or explanation.{{cite news |url=http://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/uae-fa-protest-dismissed |title=UAE FA protest dismissed |website=The-AFC.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |date=1 February 2019 |access-date=1 February 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1034946/afc-makes-its-verdict-on-the-uae-fas-complaint-over-the-eligibility-of-2-qatar-players-in-the-afc-asian-cup-2019/ |title=AFC gives its verdict on UAE's complaint over eligibility of 2 Qatar players in AFC Asian Cup 2019 |website=foxsportsasia.com |publisher=Fox Sports |date=1 February 2019 |access-date=1 February 2019 |archive-date=9 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109102735/https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1034946/afc-makes-its-verdict-on-the-uae-fas-complaint-over-the-eligibility-of-2-qatar-players-in-the-afc-asian-cup-2019/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-asiancup-final/uae-protest-at-eligibility-of-qataris-dismissed-on-day-of-final-idUKKCN1PQ4JC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202041954/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-asiancup-final/uae-protest-at-eligibility-of-qataris-dismissed-on-day-of-final-idUKKCN1PQ4JC|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2019|title=UAE protest at eligibility of Qataris dismissed on day of final|publisher=Reuters|date=1 February 2019|access-date=1 February 2019}} In August 2020, the case was finally settled at CAS (Court of Arbirtration for Sport, based in Lausanne, Switzerland) with the UAE losing its appeal against the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) decision.

On 16 June 2019, Ali scored in Qatar's 2–2 draw with Paraguay in the 2019 Copa América.{{cite web|url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/06/16/qatar-shake-up-copa-with-thrilling-comeback-against-paraguay|title=Qatar shake up Copa with thrilling comeback against Paraguay |work=Euronews |date=16 June 2019 |access-date=17 June 2019}} Ali was included in Qatar's squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He scored four goals in the competition to clinch the top scorer award.{{cite web |url=https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/qatar-s-almoez-ali-scoops-2021-gold-cup-top-scorer-award |title=Qatar's Almoez Ali scoops 2021 Gold Cup Top Scorer Award |website=AFC |date=2 August 2021 }}

In November 2022, he was included in Qatar's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He started in all three group matches as Qatar made its first appearance at the FIFA World Cup tournament.{{cite web|url=https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/soccer/wc/player/184768?team=1873&season=2022|title=Player Profile — Almoez Ali|access-date=15 January 2024|website=USA Today}}

On 3 January 2024, Ali was named in Qatar's squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.{{cite web|title=Our final list for Asia |url=https://twitter.com/QFA_EN/status/1742493635214454878| publisher=Qatar Football Association|website=Twitter|date=3 January 2024|access-date=15 January 2024}} In the team's opening match of the tournament, he scored Qatar's second goal in a 3–0 win over Lebanon in Lusail.{{cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_asian_cup/news/group_a_qatar_v_lebanon_2.html|title=Group A: Qatar 3-0 Lebanon|date=13 January 2024|access-date=15 January 2024|website=Asian Football Confederation}} In the semi-final match against Iran, he scored the winning goal in a 3–2 victory, which qualified his country to their second final in a row.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/feb/07/hosts-qatar-beat-iran-in-thriller-to-set-up-asian-cup-final-against-jordan|title=Hosts Qatar beat Iran in thriller to set up Asian Cup final against Jordan|work=The Guardian|date=7 February 2024}} On 10 February 2024, Ali won the 2023 AFC Asian Cup which was his second in a row for him.

On 16 November 2023, Ali scored his second poker goal (4 goals) for Qatar during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Afghanistan in a thrashing 8–1 victory.

{{Updated|match played 24 January 2025}}{{cite web|title=Almoez Ali|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/muiz-ali/325932/|access-date=25 February 2021|website=Soccerway}}

{{notelist}}

{{Main|List of international goals scored by Almoez Ali}}

{{updated|match played 25 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=Almoez Ali Abdulla - Century of International Appearances |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/qat-almoez-intlg.html |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=RSSSF}}

Al-Duhail

• Qatar Stars League: 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2022–23
• Emir of Qatar Cup: 2018, 2019, 2022
• Qatar Cup: 2018, 2023
• Qatari Stars Cup: 2022–23
• Sheikh Jassim Cup: 2016

Qatar U19

• AFC U-19 Championship: 2014

Qatar

• AFC Asian Cup: 2019, 2023
• WAFF Championship: 2014

Individual

• AFC U-23 Championship top goalscorer: 2018
• AFC Asian Cup top goalscorer: 2019
• AFC Asian Cup Best Player: 2019
• AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2019, 2023{{cite news |url=https://www.the-afc.com/afc/documents/PdfFiles/afc-asian-cup-uae-2019-technical-report-and-statistics |title=AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Technical Report and Statistics |publisher=AFC |date=29 May 2019 |access-date=1 January 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://assets.the-afc.com/Corporate_Page/Technical/Technical_Reports/AFC-Asian-Cup-Qatar-2023%E2%84%A2-Technical-Report.pdf |title=AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 Technical Report |page=69 |publisher=AFC |date=2024-08-12 |access-date=2024-08-13}}
• IFFHS AFC Men's Team of the Decade 2011–2020{{cite web |url=https://www.iffhs.com/index.php/posts/930 |title=IFFHS MAN TEAM - AFC - OF THE DECADE 2011-2020 |work=IFFHS |date=30 January 2021 }}
• CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Boot: 2021{{cite web|url=https://www.concacaf.com/gold-cup/article/qatar-s-ali-earns-2021-gold-cup-top-scorer-award/|title=Qatar's Ali earns 2021 Gold Cup Top Scorer Award|publisher=CONCACAF|date=2 August 2021|access-date=2 August 2021}}
• CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2021{{cite web|url=https://www.concacaf.com/gold-cup/article/turner-funes-mori-named-to-best-xi/|title=Turner, Funes Mori named to Best XI|publisher=CONCACAF|date=3 August 2021|access-date=3 August 2021}}

• List of top international men's football goalscorers by country
• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
• List of men's footballers with 50 or more international goals

{{reflist}}

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• {{AFC player|87269}}
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{{Al-Duhail SC squad}}

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{{Qatar squad 2019 AFC Asian Cup}}

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{{Qatar squad 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}

{{Qatar squad 2023 AFC Asian Cup}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali, Almoez}}

Category:1996 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sudanese emigrants to Qatar

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Category:Footballers from Khartoum

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Category:FIFA Men's Century Club

Category:21st-century Qatari sportsmen