Baghdad Bounedjah

{{short description|Algerian professional footballer (born 1991)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Baghdad Bounedjah

| image = Al Sadd and Persepolis FC training in Azadi Stadium 3 (Baghdad Bounedjah).jpg

| caption = Bounedjah with Al Sadd in 2019

| full_name = Baghdad Bounedjah{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce14/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021: List of players: Algeria |publisher=FIFA |page=1 |date=4 December 2021 |access-date=12 December 2022}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1991|11|24}}

| birth_place = Oran, Algeria

| height = 1.85 m

| position = Striker

| currentclub = Al-Shamal

| clubnumber = 11

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2009 | youthclubs1 = RCG Oran

| years1 = 2009–2011 | clubs1 = RCG Oran | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 2011–2013 | clubs2 = USM El Harrach | caps2 = 48 | goals2 = 16

| years3 = 2013–2015 | clubs3 = ES Sahel | caps3 = 49 | goals3 = 26

| years4 = 2015–2024 | clubs4 = Al Sadd | caps4 = 157 | goals4 = 150

| years5 = 2024– | clubs5 = Al-Shamal | caps5 = 18 | goals5 = 17

| nationalyears1 = 2011–2016 | nationalteam1 = Algeria U23 | nationalcaps1 = 8 | nationalgoals1 = 4

| nationalyears2 = 2013–2021 | nationalteam2 = Algeria A' | nationalcaps2 = 1 | nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2013– | nationalteam3 = Algeria | nationalcaps3 = 78 | nationalgoals3 = 32

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}

{{MedalCountry|{{fb|ALG}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|FIFA Arab Cup}}

{{Medal|W|2021 Qatar|}}

{{MedalCompetition|Africa Cup of Nations}}

{{Medal|W|2019 Egypt|}}

| club-update = 29 March 2025

| nationalteam-update = 10 June 2025

}}

Baghdad Saddam Bounedjah ({{langx|ar|بَغْدَاد صَدَّام بُونَجَاح}}, born 24 November 1991) is an Algerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Qatar Stars League club Al-Shamal and the Algeria national team.

Throughout his club career until 2015, Bounedjah played for Algerian sides RCG Oran and USM El Harrach, and Tunisian side Étoile du Sahel, before joining Qatari club Al Sadd in 2015. In the 2018–19 Qatar Stars League season, he scored a league record of 39 goals in one season, and was the world's leading goalscorer during the 2018 calendar year with 58 goals overall.{{cite news|work=World Soccer|page=12|title=Heroes and Villains|date=Summer 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/baghdad-boudjenah/208111/matches/|title=B. Bounedjah|website=Soccerway|access-date=5 December 2019}}

Bounedjah made his senior debut for Algeria in 2014 and has represented his nation at the 2016 Summer Olympics, and four editions of the Africa Cup of Nations; he was a member of the squad that won the 2019 tournament, scoring the winning goal in the final.

Club career

=RCG Oran=

Baghdad started his career in his native city with RCG Oran when he played in the all youth categories until he arrives in senior in 2009 when he played two seasons. In 2011, he joined USM El Harrach.{{Cite web |date=5 March 2017 |title=Bounedjah invité à l'émission " C'est vous l'Expert " |trans-title=Bounedjah invited to the show "You're the Expert" |url=http://lagazettedufennec.com/interviews/entretien-exclusif/bounedjah-manque-a-selection-esprit-de-groupe-quon-avait-2014 |access-date=5 March 2017 |website=La Gazette du Fennec}}

=USM El Harrach=

In the summer of 2011, Bounedjah signed a two-year contract with USM El Harrach, joining them from amateur club RCG Oran.{{Cite web |last=Kreo |title=USMH : Bounedjah et Ferahi, les deux premières recrues officielles :. Le Buteur |trans-title=USMH: Bounedjah and Ferahi, the first two official signings – Le Buteur |url=http://www.lebuteur.com/ligue-1/actualites/usmh-bounedjah-et-ferahi-les-deux-premieres-recrues-officielles |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20140306152844/http://www.lebuteur.com/ligue-1/actualites/usmh-bounedjah-et-ferahi-les-deux-premieres-recrues-officielles |archive-date=2014-03-06 |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.lebuteur.com}} On 10 September 2011, he made his professional debut for the club as a starter in the first-round game of the 2011–12 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 against MC Oran, scoring a goal in the 78th minute.{{Cite web |title=Fiche de Match |trans-title=Match Sheet |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/fiches/fiche2.php?fiche_id=5739 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525205037/http://www.dzfoot.com/fiches/fiche2.php?fiche_id=5739 |archive-date=25 May 2018 |access-date=25 May 2018 |website=www.dzfoot.com}}

=Étoile du Sahel=

In June 2013, Bounedjah joined with the club of Sousse, Étoile Sportive du Sahel, with which he signed a three-year contract.{{cite web |date=14 July 2013 |title=Transferts : Baghdad Bounedjah officiellement à l'ES Sahel |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2013/07/14/transferts-baghdad-bounedjah-officiellement-a-les-sahel-31214.php |url-status=dead |access-date=7 December 2018 |website=dzfoot.com}} This transfer was made official a month later, when his former employer, who disputed this transfer. On 26 September 2013, He made his debut for the team in Tunisian Professional League 1 against US Monastir, also scored his first goal with the club. He quickly became an essential part of the ES Sahel, and finished top scorer in the 2014 Tunisian Professional League 1 in his first year, scoring 14 goals in 23 games. This earned him the extension of his initial three-year contract, an additional year, the link now to the club until June 2017.{{cite web |date=6 May 2014 |title=Transferts : Bounedjah prolonge d'un an à l'ES Sahel |trans-title=Transfers: Bounedjah extends by one year with ES Sahel |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2014/05/06/transferts-bounedjah-prolonge-dun-an-a-les-sahel-43330.php |access-date=7 December 2018 |website=dzfoot.com}} On 11 August 2013, Bounedjah, won his first title with Étoile du Sahel. The Algerian striker offered the 2013–14 Tunisian Cup to his club at the expense of CS Sfaxien, in the final at Rades.{{cite web |date=27 June 2014 |title=Baghdad Bounedjah offre la Coupe de Tunisie à l'ES Sahel ! |trans-title=Baghdad Bounedjah delivers the Tunisian Cup to ES Sahel! |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2014/06/27/baghdad-bounedjah-offre-la-coupe-de-tunisie-a-les-sahel-48010.php |access-date=7 December 2018 |website=dzfoot.com}} In the second season, Bounedjah continued to shine and On 25 September 2014, scored his first hat-trick in Tunisian Ligue Pro 1 against EGS Gafsa in 3–0 victory. to finish the Professional League 1 with 11 goals in second place the same thing with Étoile du Sahel where they failed to win the championship, two points behind Club Africain. But again he won the Tunisian Cup for the second time in a row, this time against Stade Gabèsien and scored Bounedjah a hat-trick.{{cite web |date=29 August 2015 |title=Bounedjah inscrit un triplé en finale de la coupe de Tunisie |trans-title=Baghdad Bounedjah offers the Tunisian Cup to ES Sahel! |url=http://www.competition.dz/actualites/50429-bounedjah-inscrit-un-triple-en-finale-de-la-coupe-de-tunisie.html |access-date=13 December 2018 |website=competition.dz}} Then continued to shine and this time in the CAF Confederation Cup and thus contributed to the victory of Étoile du Sahel title and achieved at the same time the title of the top scorer.{{cite web |date=8 December 2015 |title=ES Sahel : la belle image laissée par Baghdad Bounedjah |trans-title=ES Sahel: the beautiful impression left by Baghdad Bounedjah |url=http://lagazettedufennec.com/actu/afrique/es-sahel-la-belle-image-laissee-par-baghdad-bounedjah/ |access-date=13 December 2018 |website=lagazettedufennec.com}}

=Al Sadd=

==2015–16 season==

On 29 April 2015, Bounedjah moved to Qatar's Al Sadd, but he remained at Étoile du Sahel for a six-month loan period. Indeed, the Qatari club having already reached its quota of foreign players, decided to leave the player on loan to the Sahelian training for the first part of the season before returning to his workforce. During his loan, Bounedjah was seriously injured.{{cite web |title=Suite à la blessure de Bounedjah: L'Etoile sera-t-elle obligée de dédommagement Al Sadd ? |trans-title=Following Bounedjah's injury: Will Étoile be required to compensate Al Sadd? |url=http://www.letemps.com.tn/article/94623/suite-%C3%A0-la-blessure-de-bounedjah-letoile-sera-t-elle-oblig%C3%A9e-de-d%C3%A9dommager-al-sadd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329223452/http://www.letemps.com.tn/article/94623/suite-%C3%A0-la-blessure-de-bounedjah-letoile-sera-t-elle-oblig%C3%A9e-de-d%C3%A9dommager-al-sadd |archive-date=29 March 2019 |access-date=7 December 2018 |website=letemps.com.tn}} Ankle injury which kept him out for nearly three months On 7 March 2016, He made his debut for the team in Qatar Stars League against Al-Gharafa, later Bounedjah scored the winning goal against Al-Kharaitiyat his first goal with the club.{{cite web |date=12 March 2016 |title=Qatar : Premier but de Bounedjah avec Al Sadd |trans-title=Qatar: Bounedjah's first goal with Al Sadd |url=http://lagazettedufennec.com/filinfo/qatar-premier-but-de-bounedjah-avec-al-sadd/ |access-date=7 December 2018 |website=lagazettedufennec.com}} and with the end of a difficult season for him and his team participated only in ten games and scored seven goals in all competitions.

==2016–17 season==

In his second season and On 7 December 2016, Bounedjah scored his first hat-trick in Qatar Stars League against Al-Rayyan in 5–0 victory.{{cite web |title=Bounedjah signe un Hat-Trick face à Al Rayyan |trans-title=Bounedjah scores a hat-trick against Al Rayyan |url=http://www.lebuteur.com/article/detail?id=61318 |access-date=8 December 2018 |website=lebuteur.com}} reaching 13 goals in Qatar for that season. Later, on 16 February 2017 Bounedjah scored another hat trick, this time against Al-Arabi In this match, Bounedjah scored five goals for the first time in his career.{{cite web |title=Al Sadd : Bounedjah réalise un grand exploit face à Al-Arabi |trans-title=Al Sadd: Bounedjah achieves a great feat against Al-Arabi |url=https://www.djazairess.com/fr/lebuteur/163968 |access-date=8 December 2018 |website=djazairess.com}} At the end of the season, his team failed to win the league title, two points behind Lekhwiya, but he achieved the title of the top goalscorer in the Qatari Stars league with 24 goals alongside Lekhwiya's Youssef El-Arabi.{{cite web|title=Qatar : Bounedjah, 24 buts, en tête des buteurs |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2017/04/08/qatar-bounedjah-24-buts-en-tete-des-buteurs-101679.php |website=dzfoot.com|date=8 April 2017 |access-date=8 December 2018}} With the end of the league, Bounedjah won his first title Qatar Crown Prince Cup after winning the final against El Jaish and also scored a goal. Bounedjah achieve his second title by winning the Emir of Qatar Cup against Al-Rayyan.{{cite web |url=http://www.qatar-tribune.com/news-details/id/66133 |title=Al Sadd garner Emir Cup glory with record 16th title |work=qatar-tribune |date=19 May 2017 |access-date=8 December 2018 }}{{cite web|title=Qatar : Hamroun buteur, l'Emir Cup pour Al Sadd |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2017/05/19/qatar-hamroun-buteur-lemir-cup-pour-al-sadd-103481.php |website=dzfoot.com|date=19 May 2017 |access-date=8 December 2018}} before this final, in the quarter-finals Bounedjah scored a super-hat trick against Al-Kharaitiyat. As a result, Bounedjah finished the season with 30 goals. On 23 May 2017, After his big season he decided to extend his contract, which was due to end in 2018, for three seasons until 2021.{{cite web |url=http://lagazettedufennec.com/filinfo/al-sadd-bounedjah-prolonge-jusquen-2021/ |title=Al Sadd : Bounedjah prolonge jusqu'en 2021 ! |work=lagazettedufennec.com |date=23 May 2017 |access-date=28 December 2018 }}

==2017–18 season==

At the start of his third season at Al Sadd, the 2017–18 campaign On 9 September 2017, First game of the season, first "hat trick" and first title for Bounedjah, during the Qatar Super Cup after beating league champion last season, Al-Duhail 4–1.{{cite web|title=Qatar : Hat-trick et Super coupe pour Bounedjah |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2017/09/09/qatar-hat-trick-et-super-coupe-pour-bounedjah-107684.php |website=dzfoot.com|date=9 September 2017 |access-date=9 December 2018}} with the start of the league Bounedjah was aspiring to win the title and the start was good where he scored in six consecutive games until the match against Al-Duhail and defeat 4–2, after this game was exposed again, a difficult injury Shin fracture and kept him out for more than two months, This injury prevented him from competing for the title of goal scorer against his opponent last season Youssef El-Arabi, and after returning from injury and only in five matches Bounedjah scored ten goals in Qatar Stars League including a super-hat trick against Al-Ahli The fourth goal is the 50 in all competitions with Al Sadd.{{cite web|title=Qatar : Bounedjah inscrit un quadruplé avec Al Sadd |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2018/02/25/baghdad-bounedjah-inscrit-un-quadruple-avec-al-sadd-120842.php |website=dzfoot.com|date=25 February 2018 |access-date=9 December 2018}} In the AFC Champions League and after a seven-year absence from the group stage Al-Sadd placed its focus on it, as well as Bounedjah Where he was remarkably successful scoring nine goals in eight games, Including four binaries against Al-Wasl back and forth, Persepolis and Al-Ahli in the Round of 16.{{cite web|title=AFC : Doublé décisif de Bounedjah à Djeddah |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2018/05/14/afc-double-decisif-de-bounedjah-a-djeddah-127415.php |website=dzfoot.com|date=14 May 2018 |access-date=9 December 2018}} To finish the season strongly with 28 goals in all competitions.

==2018–19 season==

On 5 August 2018, Bounedjah scored a hat-trick in the first game of the season against Al-Kharaitiyat one week later, Bounedjah broke the Qatar Stars League single-game goal record, scoring seven goals in a 10–1 win against Al Arabi.{{Cite web|url=https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/13/08/2018/Record-breaking-Bounedjah-seals-big-win-for-Al-Sadd|title=Record-breaking Bounedjah seals big win for Al Sadd - The Peninsula Qatar|website=thepeninsulaqatar.com|date=13 August 2018 |access-date=13 August 2018}} Bounedjah continued his success at the individual level by winning the top scorer of the 2018 AFC Champions League with 13 goals to become the first Algerian and the first player from a Qatari club to achieve this award. The Al-Sadd forward matched the all-time single tournament record held by Muriqui who netted the same tally by the conclusion of Guangzhou Evergrande's 2013 campaign.{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/al-sadd-s-bounedjah-bags-top-scorer-award|title=Al Sadd's Bounedjah bags Top Scorer Award|website=the-afc.com|access-date=10 November 2018}}{{cite web|title=AFC CL : Bounedjah termine meilleur buteur |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2018/11/11/afc-cl-bounedjah-termine-meilleur-buteur-138616.php |website=dzfoot.com|date=11 November 2018 |access-date=11 November 2018}} despite failing to reach the final after a semi-final elimination against Persepolis. And continue to pursue and score goals with the club and the national team and his arrival at the barrier 50 goals in 2018, newspapers in Qatar and Europe spoke about the offer from Olympique Marseille to the Algerian star in the winter transfer.{{Cite web|url=https://le10sport.com/football/mercato/mercato-om-baghdad-bounedjah-afficherait-une-volonte-claire-pour-son-avenir-420568|title=Mercato - OM : Bounedjah afficherait une volonté claire pour son avenir !|website=le10sport.com|access-date=6 December 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.africatopsports.com/2018/12/06/lom-na-abandonne-piste-baghdad-bounedjah/|title=L'OM N'A PAS ABANDONNÉ LA PISTE BAGHDAD BOUNEDJAH|website=africatopsports.com|date=6 December 2018 |access-date=6 December 2018}} Bounedjah said that, "if I get an offer from a good club I will leave Al Sadd but if it's the opposite I'll stay here".{{cite web|title=Bounedjah : "Je partirai à certaines conditions" |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2018/12/03/bounedjah-je-partirai-a-certaines-conditions-140084.php |website=dzfoot.com|date=3 December 2018 |access-date=7 December 2018}} On 2 December 2018, Bounedjah scored another hat-trick, his fourth for the season and this time against Al-Gharafa in 8–1 victory.{{cite web |date=2 December 2018 |title=Qatar : Triplé et deux passes pour Bounedjah |trans-title=Qatar: Hat-trick and two assists for Bounedjah |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2018/12/02/qatar-triple-et-deux-passes-decisives-pour-bounedjah-140054.php |access-date=7 December 2018 |website=dzfoot.com}} On 7 December 2018, Bounedjah set a new top goalscorer record for the Qatar Stars League with 28 goals after just 14 matches, breaking the record previously held by Brazilian striker Clemerson de Araújo, who scored 27 goals in 2007–08.{{cite web|title=Qatar : Baghdad Bounedjah bat le record de buts |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2018/12/07/qatar-bounedjah-buteur-historique-au-qatar-140371.php |website=dzfoot.com|date=7 December 2018 |access-date=7 December 2018}}

By the end of 2018, Bounedjah managed to beat several stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the world's top scorer after reaching goal 58, including 29 in Qatar Stars League this season, ten last season in the same competition, 13 in the Champions League and seven with the Algeria national team.{{cite web|title=Baghdad Bounedjah : Ses 59 buts de l'année 2018 |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2018/12/26/baghdad-bounedjah-ses-58-buts-de-lannee-2018-141706.php |website=dzfoot.com|date=26 December 2018 |access-date=27 December 2018}} Bounedjah is also the first Algerian to have scored a total of 50 goals in a year and far ahead of his teammates in the selection Islam Slimani or Riyad Mahrez and even Nacer Bouiche who had exceeded 40 goals in 1986 with JS Kabylie. On 28 December 2018, Bounedjah decided to renew his contract until 2024 despite the offers he received from several European clubs.{{cite web|title=Officiel : Baghdad Bounedjah prolonge avec Al-Sadd |url=http://www.footmercato.net/flash-mercato/officiel-baghdad-bounedjah-prolonge-avec-al-sadd_244100 |website=footmercato.net|date=28 December 2018 |access-date=28 December 2018}} With the start of the new year, Bounedjah won another individual award, this time the best Algerian player of 2018, ahead of his teammates Riyad Mahrez and Yacine Brahimi, The award was conferred by the Brazilian star Roberto Carlos.{{cite web|url=http://www.lebuteur.com/article/detail?titre=baghdad-bounedjah-elu-joueur-de-lannee-2018&id=85571|title=Baghdad Bounedjah élu joueur de l'année 2018|date=15 January 2019|publisher=lebuteur.com}}{{cite web|url=https://africafootunited.com/news/ballon-d%27or-algerien-2018-baghdad-bounedjah-laureat-!/4727|title=Ballon d'Or Algérien 2018 : Baghdad Bounedjah Lauréat|date=15 January 2019|publisher=AfricaFootUnited.com|access-date=15 January 2019|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331042717/https://africafootunited.com/news/ballon-d%27or-algerien-2018-baghdad-bounedjah-laureat-%21/4727|url-status=dead}} Bounedjah is the first footballer based outside Europe and Algeria to win the award. On 23 February 2019, Bounedjah scored in the Qatari Classico against Al-Rayyan, bringing his tally with Al Sadd to 100 goal in all competitions, making him the first Algerian player based outside of Europe to claim this accolade with a single club.{{cite web|url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2019/02/23/qatar-bounedjah-buteur-et-passeur-dans-un-classique-du-championnat-145739.php|title=Qatar : Bounedjah buteur et passeur dans le classique qatarien|date=23 February 2019|publisher=dzfoot.com}} On 4 April 2019, Bounedjah scored his sixth hat-trick of the season (and 39th goal in total - a league record) against Al-Ahli to lead Al Sadd SC to win their first Qatar Stars League title in six seasons, is also the first league title for Bounedjah in its history.{{cite web |date=4 April 2019 |title=Qatar : Triplé de Bounedjah, Al Sadd champion |trans-title=Qatar: Bounedjah hat-trick, Al Sadd champion |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2019/04/04/qatar-triple-de-bounedjah-al-sadd-champion-148341.php |access-date=5 April 2019 |website=dzfoot.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47825756|title=Algeria's Baghdad Bounedjah wins Qatari title with 39 goals|date=5 April 2019|website=BBC Sport|access-date=27 August 2019|first=Danesius|last=Marteh}}

==2019–20 season==

After the end of the Africa Cup of Nations, Bounedjah cut off his holiday early to prepare for the new league season, which had an early start. On 13 August 2019, Bounedjah and his team qualified for the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League after winning against rivals Al-Duhail; he registered an assist for Akram Afif in the second leg.{{cite web|url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2019/08/13/cl-asie-bounedjah-passeur-al-sadd-qualifie-160814.php|title=CL Asie : Bounedjah passeur, Al-Sadd qualifié|date=13 August 2019|access-date=14 August 2019|publisher=dzfoot.com}} After missing two games because of the penalty and in his first Qatar Stars League match against Al-Shahania he scored four goals in the 7–1 win.{{cite web |date=31 August 2019 |title=Qatar : Quadruplé de Baghdad Bounedjah |trans-title=Qatar: Baghdad Bounedjah scores four goals |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2019/08/31/qatar-quadruple-de-baghdad-bounedjah-162366.php |access-date=31 August 2019 |publisher=dzfoot.com}} On 11 December, he scored the first goal at the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup and earned the Man of the Match award for his performance in his side's 3–1 First Round win over 2019 OFC Champions League winners Hienghène Sport in extra time.{{cite news|url=https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/international/categories/international/baghdad-bounedjah-stars-in-fifa-club-world-cup-opener/669307|title=Baghdad Bounedjah Stars In Club World Cup Opener|publisher=Soccer Laduma|date=11 December 2019|access-date=12 December 2019|last=Bekker|first=Liam}} He ultimately scored a tournament-high three goals as Al-Sadd ended sixth.{{cite news|url=https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/international/categories/international/club-world-cup-flamengo-through-to-final/669632|title=Flamengo Advance To Club World Cup Final, Esperance Finish Fifth|publisher=Soccer Laduma|date=17 December 2019|access-date=18 December 2019}}

==2020–21 season==

The start of the season was late due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Qatar and from the tournaments that have been postponed to this season the 2020 Emir of Qatar Cup, Bounedjah led his club to win the title where he scored the two winning goals in the final against Al-Arabi which is his second title in the same competition.{{cite web |date=18 December 2020 |title=Qatar : Doublé et Coupe de l'Emir pour Bounedjah |trans-title=Qatar: Double and Emir's Cup for Bounedjah |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2020/12/18/qatar-double-et-coupe-de-lemir-pour-bounedjah-194473.php |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=DZFoot.com}} On 23 December 2020, Bounedjah scored the 100th goal in the Qatar Stars League by scoring the winning goal against Al-Rayyan.{{cite web |date=25 December 2020 |title=Al Sadd: Bounedjah atteint la barre de 100 buts |trans-title=Al Sadd: Bounedjah reaches the 100-goal mark |url=http://lechodalgerie-dz.com/al-sadd-bounedjah-atteint-la-barre-de-100-buts/ |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=lechodalgerie-dz.com}} On 7 January 2021, Bounedjah scored his first hat-trick of the season against Al-Sailiya in 8–0 victory and provided two assists.{{cite web |date=7 January 2021 |title=Qatar : Quadruplé et deux passes pour Bounedjah |trans-title=Qatar: Four goals and two assists for Bounedjah |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2021/01/07/qatar-quadruple-et-deux-passes-pour-bounedjah-195621.php |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=DZFoot.com}} Five days later Bounedjah scored another hat-trick against defending champions Al-Duhail in a 3–1 win.{{cite web |date=12 January 2021 |title=Qatar : Triplé de Bounedjah face à Al Duhail |trans-title=Qatar: Bounedjah scores a hat-trick against Al Duhail |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2021/01/12/qatar-triple-de-bounedjah-face-a-al-duhail-195938.php |access-date=19 January 2021 |website=DZFoot.com}}

On 26 February 2021, in the final of the Qatar Cup, Bounedjah scored twice in Al Sadd's win over Al-Duhail.{{cite web |date=26 February 2021 |title=Qatar : Doublé de Bounedjah qui gagne la Coupe |trans-title=Qatar: Bounedjah's double helps win the Cup |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2021/02/26/qatar-double-de-bounedjah-qui-gagne-la-coupe-198798.php |access-date=23 April 2021 |website=DZFoot.com}} In the Qatar Stars League and after winning against Umm Salal with a score of 3–0, Bounedjah scored a goal which secured the club's 15th league title.{{cite web |date=7 March 2021 |title=Qatar : Bounedjah buteur et champion avec Al Sadd |trans-title=Qatar: Bounedjah goal scorer and champion with Al Sadd |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2021/03/07/qatar-bounedjah-buteur-et-champion-avec-al-sadd-199321.php |access-date=23 April 2021 |website=DZFoot.com}} He ended the season as the league's top scorer, with 21 goals; it was his third time winning the QSL golden boot.{{cite web |date=10 April 2021 |title=Qatar : Bounedjah meilleur buteur de la saison |trans-title=Qatar: Bounedjah top scorer of the season |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2021/04/10/qatar-bounedjah-meilleur-buteur-de-la-saison-201600.php |access-date=23 April 2021 |website=DZFoot.com}}

International career

In September 2011, Bounedjah was called by Azzedine Aït Djoudi up to the Algeria under-23 national team.[http://www.dzfoot.com/news-9964/en-u23-deux-defaites-en-match-d-application/ EN U23 : Deux défaites en match d'application] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001043046/http://www.dzfoot.com/news-9964/en-u23-deux-defaites-en-match-d-application/ |date=1 October 2011 }}; DZFoot.com, 28 September 2011. He participated with the team in a pair of friendlies against USM Blida and NA Hussein Dey. On 4 October 2011, Bounedjah received a surprise call-up to the Algeria national team from Vahid Halilhodžić for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Central African Republic, replacing the injured Rafik Djebbour.[http://www.dzfoot.com/news-10013/e-n-l-inconnu-bounedjah-appele-par-halilhodzic/ L'inconnu Bounedjah appelé par Halilhodzic !] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006095244/http://www.dzfoot.com/news-10013/e-n-l-inconnu-bounedjah-appele-par-halilhodzic |date=6 October 2011 }}; DZFoot.com, 4 October 2011. On 16 November 2011, he was selected as part of Algeria's squad for the 2011 CAF U-23 Championship in Morocco.[http://www.dzfoot.com/news-10307/en-u23-les-21-joueurs-selectionnes/ EN U23 : Les 21 joueurs sélectionnés] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306225135/http://www.dzfoot.com/news-10307/en-u23-les-21-joueurs-selectionnes/ |date=6 March 2012 }}; DZFoot, 16 November 2011.{{Cite web |last=Ibrahim |first=Khalfan |date=2024-02-23 |title=win456 |url=https://win456.best/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=win456.best |language=en}} Bounedjah scored the only goal for Algeria against Senegal in the 2nd minute of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Final in Egypt, from a shot that took a massive deflection off Senegalese defender Salif Sané, in a match that ended with a 1–0 win for Algeria.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/49048899|title=Algeria celebrate second Afcon title after beating Senegal|website=BBC Sport|date=19 July 2019}} In December 2023, he was named in Algeria's squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.{{cite web|url=https://www.algerie-focus.com/can-2024-lalgerie-devoile-sa-liste-officielle-qui-sont-les-fennecs-prets-a-conquerir-lafrique/|title=CAN 2024 : L'Algérie Dévoile sa Liste Officielle – Qui Sont les Fennecs Prêts à Conquérir l'Afrique ?|language=French|date=30 December 2023|access-date=12 January 2024|publisher=Algérie-Focus}} he scored the opening goal against Angola on January 15, 2024, in Ivory Coast

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 25 January 2025|{{Soccerway|208111}}}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Algerian Cup, Tunisian Cup, Qatar Emir Cup}}

!colspan="2"|Continental

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="3"|USM El Harrach

|2011–12

|rowspan="2"|Algerian Ligue 1

|20

651colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—257
2012–13

|28

1011colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—2911
colspan="2"|Total

!48

1662colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—5418
rowspan="4"|Étoile du Sahel

|2013–14

|rowspan="3"|Tunisian Ligue 1

|24

14212{{efn|name=CCC|Appearances in CAF Confederation Cup}}2colspan="2"|—2817
2014–15

|23

114612{{efn|name=CCC}}7colspan="2"|—3924
2015–16

|2

1colspan="2"|—7{{efn|name=CCC}}4colspan="2"|—95
colspan="2"|Total

!49

26672113colspan="2"|—7646
rowspan="10"|Al Sadd

|2015–16

|rowspan="9"|Qatar Stars League

|6

334colspan="2"|—1{{efn|name=QCPC|Appearance in Qatar Crown Prince Cup}}0107
2016–17

|20

24351{{efn|name=ACL|Appearance(s) in AFC Champions League}}01{{efn|name=QCPC}}12530
2017–18

|11

16008{{efn|name=ACL}}93{{efn|One appearance and three goals in Qatari Super Cup, two appearances in Qatar Crown Prince Cup}}32228
2018–19

|22

393310{{efn|name=ACL}}6colspan="2"|—3548
2019–20

|21

14237{{efn|name=ACL}}17{{efn|Three appearances and three goals in FIFA Club World Cup, two appearances and two goals in Qatar Crown Prince Cup}}83826
2020–21

|19

21234{{efn|name=ACL}}42{{efn|name=QCPC}}22730
2021–22

|17

132130002214
2022–23

|22

1243006{{efn|Four appearances in Qatari Stars Cup, two appearance and two goals in Qatar Crown Prince Cup}}53020
2023–24

|20

8423{{efn|name=ACL}}264{{efn|Appearances in Arab Club Champions Cup}}3316
colspan="2"|Total

!157

150242444262420242219
Al-Shamal

|2024–25

|Qatar Stars League

|13

1300colspan="2"|—001313
colspan="3"|Career total

!280

203363359382420384292

{{notelist}}

=International=

{{updated|match played 10 June 2025}}{{NFT|53013}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year

!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals

rowspan="13"|Algeria

|2013

10
201410
201540
201610
201751
201897
2019148
202031
2021167
202240
202352
2024136
202520
colspan="2"|Total7832

:Scores and results list Algeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bounedjah goal.

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Baghdad Bounedjah

!scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|17 January 2017Mustapha Tchaker Stadium, Blida, Algeria{{fb|MTN|1959}}align="center"|2–1align="center"|3–1Friendly
align="center"|2rowspan="2"|22 March 2018rowspan="2"|Stade du 5 Juillet, Algiers, Algeriarowspan="2"|{{fb|TAN}}align="center"|1–0rowspan="2" align="center"|4–1rowspan="2"|Friendly
align="center"|3align="center"|4–1
align="center"|41 June 2018Stade du 5 Juillet, Algiers, Algeria{{fb|CPV}}align="center"|2–1align="center"|2–3Friendly
align="center"|58 September 2018Independence Stadium, Bakau, Gambia{{fb|GAM}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|1–12019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
align="center"|612 October 2018Mustapha Tchaker Stadium, Blida, Algeria{{fb|BEN}}align="center"|2–0align="center"|2–02019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
align="center"|718 November 2018Stade Municipal, Lomé, Togo{{fb|TOG}}align="center"|4–1align="center"|4–12019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
align="center"|827 December 2018Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar{{fb|QAT}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|1–0Friendly
align="center"|926 March 2019Mustapha Tchaker Stadium, Blida, Algeria{{fb|TUN}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|1–0Friendly
align="center"|1011 June 2019Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar{{fb|BDI}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|1–1Friendly
align="center"|1116 June 2019Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar{{fb|MLI}}align="center"|1–1align="center"|3–2Friendly
align="center"|1223 June 201930 June Stadium, Cairo, Egypt{{fb|KEN}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|2–02019 Africa Cup of Nations
align="center"|1319 July 2019Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt{{fb|SEN}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|1–02019 Africa Cup of Nations final
align="center"|1415 October 2019Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille, France{{fb|COL}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|3–0Friendly
align="center"|15rowspan="2"|14 November 2019rowspan="2"|Mustapha Tchaker Stadium, Blida, Algeriarowspan="2"|{{fb|ZAM}}align="center"|2–0align="center" rowspan="2"|5–0rowspan="2"|2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
align="center"|16align="center"|5–0
align="center"|1712 November 2020Stade du 5 Juillet, Algiers, Algeria{{fb|ZIM}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|3–12021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
align="center"|1829 March 2021Mustapha Tchaker Stadium, Blida, Algeria{{fb|BOT}}align="center"|4–0align="center"|5–02021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
align="center"|193 June 2021Mustapha Tchaker Stadium, Blida, Algeria{{fb|MTN}}align="center"|4–1align="center"|4–1Friendly
align="center"|2011 June 2021Stade Olympique de Radès, Radès, Tunisia{{fb|TUN}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|2–0Friendly
align="center"|212 September 2021Mustapha Tchaker Stadium, Blida, Algeria{{fb|DJI}}align="center"|4–0align="center"|8–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
align="center"|2212 October 2021Stade Général Seyni Kountché, Niamey, Niger{{fb|NIG}}align="center"|4–0align="center"|4–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
align="center"|23rowspan="2"|1 December 2021rowspan="2"|Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatarrowspan="2"|{{fb|SDN}}align="center"|1–0rowspan="2" align="center"| 4–0rowspan="2"|2021 FIFA Arab Cup
align="center"|24align="center"|2–0
align="center"|2527 March 2023Stade Olympique de Radès, Radès, Tunisia{{fb|NIG}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|1–02023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
align="center"|2616 November 2023Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers, Algeria{{fb|SOM}}align="center"|2–0align="center"|3–12026 FIFA World Cup qualification
align="center"|279 January 2024Stade de Kégué, Lomé, Togo{{fb|BDI}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|4–0Friendly
align="center"|2815 January 2024Stade de la Paix, Bouaké, Ivory Coast{{fb|ANG}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|1–12023 Africa Cup of Nations
align="center"|29rowspan="2"|20 January 2024rowspan="2"|Stade de la Paix, Bouaké, Ivory Coastrowspan="2"|{{fb|BFA}}align="center"|1–1rowspan="2" align="center"| 2–2rowspan="2"|2023 Africa Cup of Nations
align="center"|30align="center"|2–2
align="center"|3110 September 2024Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Monrovia, Liberia{{fb|LBR}}align="center"|3–0align="center"|3–02025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
align="center"|3217 November 2024Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium, Tizi Ouzou, Algeria{{fb|LBR}}align="center"|3–1align="center"|5–12025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

:Scores and results list Algeria U23's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bounedjah goal.

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Baghdad Bounedjah

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|14 August 2016Estádio Olímpico João Havelange, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil{{fbu|23|HON|name=Honduras U23}}align="center"|2–3align="center"|2–32016 Summer Olympics

Honours

Étoile du Sahel

Al Sadd

  • Qatar Stars League: 2018–19, 2020–21,{{cite web|date=4 April 2019|title=39-goal hero Baghdad Bounedjah fires Al Sadd to win Qatar Stars League title|url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/39-goal-hero-baghdad-bounedjah-fires-al-sadd-to-win-qatar/xws2fm0kdfd01lid0eni841d9|access-date=19 July 2019|publisher=Goal}} 2021–22, 2023–24{{Cite web |title=Live sports scores, news and more |url=https://m.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=26250&cm=i |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240524235440/https://m.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=26250&cm=i |archive-date=2024-05-24 |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=m.goalzz.com}}
  • Qatar Cup: 2017, 2020, 2021
  • Emir of Qatar Cup: 2017, 2020, 2021, 2024
  • Sheikh Jassim Cup: 2017
  • Qatari Stars Cup: 2019–20{{Cite web |title=Live sports scores, news and more |url=https://m.goalzz.com/?c=18146 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240524235440/https://m.goalzz.com/?c=18146 |archive-date=2024-05-24 |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=m.goalzz.com}}

Algeria

  • Africa Cup of Nations: 2019{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/49048899|title=Algeria hold on against Senegal to win Afcon|website=BBC Sport|date=19 July 2019}}
  • FIFA Arab Cup: 2021{{Cite web|title=Algeria beat Tunisia to win FIFA Arab Cup 2021|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2021/12/18/algeria-beat-tunisia-to-win-fifa-arab-cup-2021|access-date=18 December 2021|website=aljazeera.com|language=en}}

Individual

  • Algerian Footballer of the Year: 2018
  • Tunisian Ligue Pro 1 Top Goalscorer: 2013–14
  • CAF Confederation Cup Top Goalscorer: 2015
  • Qatar Stars League Player of the Month:{{Cite web |title=Best of Month Listing {{!}} QSL |url=https://www.qsl.qa/en/best-of-months |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=qsl.qa}} August 2018, November/December 2018, January 2021, September 2021
  • Qatar Stars League Top Goalscorer: 2018–19, 2020–21
  • Qatar Stars League Team of the Year: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20{{Cite news |title=Qatar11 • Qatar Players Association |url=http://www.qpa.qa/en/qatar11/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241201210753/https://qpa.qa/en/qatar11/ |archive-date=2024-12-01 |access-date=2025-05-15 |work=Qatar Players Association |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Al-Ansari |first=Salman |date=2018-04-21 |title=The First Edition of Qatar 11 Awards {{*}} Qatar Players Association |url=https://qpa.qa/en/the-first-edition-of-qatar-11-awards/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Qatar Players Association |language=en-US}}
  • Emir of Qatar Cup Top Goalscorer: 2017
  • AFC Champions League Top Goalscorer: 2018
  • AFC Champions League Fans' Best XI: 2018{{cite news|url=https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/archive/2018/latest/news/the-best-acl2018-xi-announced|title=The Best ACL2018 XI announced!|publisher=AFC|date=9 August 2020|access-date=30 October 2020}}
  • AFC Champions League OPTA Best XI: 2018
  • IFFHS World's Best Top Goal Scorer: 2018{{cite web |url=https://www.iffhs.com/index.php/posts/914 |title=IFFHS WORLD'S BEST TOP GOAL SCORERS 2011 TO 2020 |work=IFFHS |date=22 January 2021 }}
  • IFFHS World's Best International Goal Scorer: 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46710505|title=Baghdad Bounedjah: Prolific Algerian striker signs new deal to stay in Qatar|website=BBC Sport|date=29 December 2018|access-date=10 May 2020}}
  • IFFHS World's Best Top Division Goal Scorer: 2019
  • FIFA Club World Cup Top Goalscorer: 2019
  • CAF Team of the Year: 2015{{cite news |title=Aubameyang, Samatta Rule Africa |url=http://www.cafonline.com/en-US/NewsCenter/News/NewsDetails?id=rIVF4WCnlfavi%2FKHOwXX6w%3D%3D |publisher=CAF |date=7 January 2016 |access-date=7 January 2016}}
  • Goal Africa Team of the Year: 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/galleries/revealed-goal-africa-team-of-the-year-2018/10/zh84265dmhp31ex8lux0n67vg|title=Goal Africa Team of the Year 2018 – Baghdad Bounedjah|publisher=Goal|date=31 December 2018}}
  • IFFHS CAF Men Team of The Year: 2021{{Cite web|title=IFFHS|url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1537|access-date=26 December 2021|website=iffhs.com}}

References

{{reflist}}