SOCCER PLAYERS from Kosovo

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Kosovar Soccer Players of all time. This list of famous Kosovar Soccer Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography's online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Kosovar Soccer Players.

1. Xherdan Shaqiri (b. 1991)

With an HPI of 58.68, Xherdan Shaqiri is the most famous Kosovar Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 65 different languages on wikipedia.

Xherdan Shaqiri (Albanian pronunciation: [dʒɛrˈdan ʃaˈciɾi]; born 10 October 1991) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Swiss Super League club Basel. Shaqiri rose through the youth ranks at Basel. In his three years playing for the Basel first-team, he was an important player in the team that won three Swiss Super League titles. He moved to Bayern Munich in 2012, where he won three Bundesliga titles in his three seasons at the club. He faced stiff competition at Bayern and did not nail down a first-team spot. In January 2015, he moved to Inter Milan for a fee of €15 million. After half a season at Inter, Shaqiri moved to Stoke City in the summer of 2015 for a club record £12 million. After Stoke's relegation from the Premier League in 2018, Shaqiri was transferred to Liverpool for a reported £13.5 million fee. He was part of the UEFA Champions League winning squad in his first season. He also won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2019, as well as the Premier League in 2020, Liverpool's first league title in 30 years. A full international from 2010 until 2024, Shaqiri earned 125 caps and scored 32 goals for Switzerland, making him the country's third-most capped player and fourth-highest goalscorer. He represented the nation at four FIFA World Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022), as well as three UEFA European Championships (2016, 2020, 2024).

2. Lorik Cana (b. 1983)

With an HPI of 54.98, Lorik Cana is the 2nd most famous Kosovar Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 47 different languages.

Lorik Agim Cana (Albanian pronunciation: [ˈlɔɾik ˈtsana]; born 27 July 1983) is an Albanian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back or midfielder. He is currently the Grassroots ambassador for children's football in Albania, a role assigned by the Albanian Football Association on 26 October 2017. Cana played in the top divisions of France, England, Italy and Turkey, representing Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Sunderland, Galatasaray, Lazio and Nantes. He also represented the Albania national team, making 94 appearances from his debut in 2002 until his retirement in 2016. Initially a defensive and central midfielder, he later transitioned into a centre-back role. Cana captained Albania at their first major international tournament, UEFA Euro 2016 in France. At the age of 16, Cana was invited for a trial with Arsenal but was unable to attend due to being denied a British visa. He began his senior club career with Paris Saint-Germain before signing for their rivals Marseille in 2004, where he went on to become captain. In 2009, Cana joined Sunderland, becoming the first player of Albanian origin to play in the Premier League and was appointed captain immediately. He later played for Galatasaray in Turkey and then signed for Italian Serie A club Lazio in 2011, where he spent four seasons. During his career, Cana won the Coupe de France in 2003–04 with Paris Saint-Germain and the Coppa Italia in 2012–13 with Lazio. In 2015, Cana returned to France, signing a two-year contract with Nantes. Eligible to represent Albania, Switzerland or France, as he held all three passports, He chose Albania and made his international debut in June 2003 at the age of 19. Cana was named captain in 2011 and retired from international football following UEFA Euro 2016, making a total of 94 appearances, setting a record for the most caps in national team history, which he held until 2025 when it was surpassed by Elseid Hysaj.

3. Etrit Berisha (b. 1989)

With an HPI of 48.55, Etrit Berisha is the 3rd most famous Kosovar Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 37 different languages.

Etrit Fadil Berisha (Albanian pronunciation: [ˈɛtɾit bɛˈɾiʃa]; born 10 March 1989) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Allsvenskan club BK Häcken and the Albania national team. Berisha began his career in Kosovo with 2 Korriku and KEK-u, moving between the two clubs at youth level before making his senior debut for 2 Korriku. In 2007, he trained with Bashkimi in Kumanovo under coach Bylbyl Sokoli, preceding a trial arranged by Albert Bunjaki with Swedish club Kalmar FF. After a loan spell at Lindsdals IF in 2009, he joined the senior squad of Kalmar FF ahead of the 2010 season and made over 100 appearances for the club, converted several spot-kicks, until 2013, the year in which he was named Allsvenskan Goalkeeper of the Year. In the summer of 2013, Chievo stated that they had reached a pre-contract agreement with Berisha, although he subsequently signed a four-year deal with fellow Serie A club Lazio. The matter led to a dispute between the two clubs, with Chievo alleging a breach of agreement, but the case was later closed without disciplinary action. During his three seasons at Lazio, Berisha was mainly used as the second-choice goalkeeper behind Federico Marchetti and made appearances in Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and European competitions. He featured regularly during the 2013–14 campaign under coaches Vladimir Petković and Edoardo Reja. Berisha left Lazio in 2016 following increased competition for the starting position. In 2016, Berisha joined Atalanta, initially on loan and later on a permanent transfer. He was part of the squad during the club’s league and European campaigns between 2016 and 2019. Berisha made regular appearances during the 2016–17 season, when Atalanta finished fourth in Serie A, and continued to feature for the team in the following two seasons in domestic and European competitions. He eventually lost his starting position to Pierluigi Gollini and left the club in 2019. In July 2019, Berisha joined SPAL on loan with an obligation to buy and became the club’s starting goalkeeper. He made 29 appearances during the 2019–20 Serie A season before being sidelined with a hand injury, and SPAL were relegated at the end of the campaign. He remained with the club in Serie B for the 2020–21 season, making 27 appearances in all competitions, including matches in the Coppa Italia. In July 2021, Berisha signed for Torino, where he began the season as a backup goalkeeper. He made several appearances during the second half of the 2021–22 campaign. Berisha did not feature in competitive matches during the 2022–23 season due to disputes with coach Ivan Jurić and left the club in 2023. In August 2023, Berisha signed with Serie A club Empoli. He began the season as a backup goalkeeper and later made several league appearances following an injury to Elia Caprile. Berisha returned to the bench after recovering from his own injury and following Caprile’s return to the team. He left Empoli at the end of the 2023–24 season. In 2025, after a period without a club, Berisha joined Swedish side BK Häcken. He made regular appearances during the 2025 season and was part of the squad that won the 2025 Svenska Cupen. The cup victory qualified Häcken for the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League qualifiers, where he played in the early rounds before the team moved into the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League league phase. He made his Conference League debut in October 2025. Berisha, born in Kosovo and eligible to represent Albania through his Albanian ethnicity, made his international debut in 2012 after being called up by head coach Gianni De Biasi. Initially a backup to Samir Ujkani, he soon established himself as Albania’s first-choice goalkeeper and went on to play a central role for over a decade. Berisha featured extensively across FIFA World Cup qualifiers, UEFA European Championship qualifying campaigns, and multiple editions of the UEFA Nations League, serving as one of the national team’s most consistent performers. He represented Albania at UEFA Euro 2016—the country’s first major tournament—and was later included in the final squad for UEFA Euro 2024. During his international career, he also captained the side and set national records for most clean sheets and most consecutive appearances, before his involvement with the national team came to an end in 2024 following a reported fallout with head coach Sylvinho.

4. Amir Rrahmani (b. 1994)

With an HPI of 48.30, Amir Rrahmani is the 4th most famous Kosovar Soccer Player.  Her biography has been translated into 28 different languages.

Amir Kadri Rrahmani (born 24 February 1994) is a Kosovar professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie A club Napoli and captains the Kosovo national team.

5. Goran Đorović (b. 1971)

With an HPI of 46.32, Goran Đorović is the 5th most famous Kosovar Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 21 different languages.

Goran Đorović (Serbian Cyrillic: Горан Ђopoвић; born 11 November 1971) is a Serbian former professional footballer who played mainly a central defender but also as a left-back. In his country, he played for Priština and Red Star. He spent the rest of his career in Spain after arriving there in 1997, representing Celta, Deportivo and Elche. Đorović went into coaching upon retiring, serving as the manager of the Serbian national under-21 team.

6. Albert Bunjaku (b. 1983)

With an HPI of 44.48, Albert Bunjaku is the 6th most famous Kosovar Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Albert Bunjaku (born 29 November 1983) is a Kosovan professional football coach and former player who is the assistant manager of the youth team at Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen and the manager of the Kosovo national under-19 team.

7. Fatos Bećiraj (b. 1988)

With an HPI of 43.84, Fatos Bećiraj is the 7th most famous Kosovar Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 21 different languages.

Fatos Bećiraj (Montenegrin: Фатос Бећирај, Albanian: Fatos Besim Beqiraj; born 5 May 1988) is a Montenegrin former professional footballer who played as a striker.

8. Emir Bajrami (b. 1988)

With an HPI of 43.68, Emir Bajrami is the 8th most famous Kosovar Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 28 different languages.

Emir Bajrami (born 7 March 1988) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a winger. Starting off his professional career with IF Elfsborg in 2006, he went on to represent FC Twente, AS Monaco, and Panathinaikos before retiring at Elfsborg in 2018. A full international between 2010 and 2012, he won 18 caps for the Sweden national team and was included in the squad for UEFA Euro 2012. He is the joint Assistant Manager of Aberdeen FC.

9. Besart Berisha (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 43.64, Besart Berisha is the 9th most famous Kosovar Soccer Player.  Her biography has been translated into 41 different languages.

Besart Selim Berisha (born 29 July 1985) is a Kosovan professional football coach and former player who is the current assistant manager of Kosovo Superleague club Prishtina.

10. Debatik Curri (b. 1983)

With an HPI of 40.59, Debatik Curri is the 10th most famous Kosovar Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Debatik Nazmi Curri (born 28 December 1983) is a Kosovar professional football coach and former player. From 2006 to 2015 he was also part of Albania national team, collecting 44 appearances and scoring once. He began his career as a defensive midfielder, but his position was changed to a centre-back when he joined the Albania national team in 2006.