List of Albania international footballers

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A footballer wearing a white jersey and white shorts
Lorik Cana is the most capped player in the history of Albania with 93 caps.

The Albania national football team has represented Albania in international association football since 1946. The Albanian Football Association (Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit; FSHF)[1] was founded in 1930 and became a member of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) two years later. However, the team did not play its first official international match until 7 October 1946, suffering a 2–3 defeat to Yugoslavia in the 1946 Balkan Cup.[2] In 1954, Albania was one of the founding members of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and continues to compete as a member of the organisation,[3] which encompasses the countries of Europe and Israel.[4] As of November 2020, Albania have played 343 international fixtures, winning 88, drawing 71 and losing 184. They have played more fixtures against Romania than any other national side, losing 13 of the 19 matches between the sides.[2] In global and continental competitions, the team has competed in qualification groups for both the FIFA World Cup, since 1966, and the UEFA European Championship, since 1964.[2] The team has qualified for one international tournament during its history, UEFA Euro 2016,[5] where they were eliminated in the group stage.[6] In minor competitions, the team won the 1946 Balkan Cup and the 2000 Malta International Football Tournament.[7][8]

As of March 2019, Albania's most capped player is Lorik Cana, who made 93 appearances for the senior team during his career.[9][10] He made his international debut in June 2003 in a 2–3 defeat against Switzerland and won his final cap in June 2016 in a 1–0 victory over Romania at UEFA Euro 2016,[9] retiring from international duty after the tournament.[11] The nation's leading goalscorer is Erjon Bogdani, who scored 18 times during his international career between 1996 and 2013.[12] Bogdani overtook the previous record holder, Alban Bushi,[13] in September 2011 after scoring in three consecutive international fixtures.[12] Bushi had claimed the record from Altin Rraklli in 2004.[13][14]

The first player to reach 25 caps for Albania was Panajot Pano,[14] who reached the total in April 1973 in a match against East Germany.[15] Pano was later named as his country's "golden player" by the FSHF during the UEFA Jubilee Awards in 2004 as Albania's "single most outstanding player".[16] Foto Strakosha is the most capped goalkeeper in the national team's history and held the overall cap record until 2011,[17] when his total was surpassed by Altin Lala.[18] The current holder, Lorik Cana, claimed the record in 2014.[9]

Players[]

Appearances and goals are composed of FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship and each competition's required qualification matches, as well as UEFA Nations League matches and numerous international friendly tournaments and matches. Players are listed by number of caps. If the number of caps is equal, the players are then listed alphabetically. Statistics updated following match played on 25 March 2019.

A stamp featuring a football team lining up prior to a match
A 60th anniversary stamp commemorating the team's victory in the 1946 Balkan Cup

Note: Albania played a friendly match against Kosovo on 13 November 2015.[19] The match was played before Kosovo became a member of FIFA or UEFA and is not recognised as an official match by either organisation but is recognised by the FSHF.[2] As such, the match is excluded from the totals in the table below and the notes column lists which players appeared in the match.

Key
*
 Still active for the national team[a]
=
 Player is tied for the number of caps
GK Goalkeeper
DF Defender
MF Midfielder
FW Forward
A footballer wearing a white jersey
Panajot Pano was selected by the Albanian Football Association as the most outstanding player of the past 50 years.
A man with dark hair wearing a white tracksuit
Altin Lala played 78 times for Albania and held the caps record between 2011 and 2014.
Albania national team footballers with at least 25 appearances[14][20]
No. Name Position National team career Caps Goals Notes
1 Lorik Cana DF 2003–2016 92 1 [b]
2 Altin Lala MF 1998–2011 78[c] 3
3 Klodian Duro MF 2001–2011 77 6
4 Ervin Skela MF 2000–2011 75 13
5 Erjon Bogdani FW 1996–2013 74 18
6= Ansi Agolli* DF 2005–2018 73 3
Foto Strakosha GK 1990–2004 73 0
8 Andi Lila* DF 2007–2018 70 0 [b]
9 Igli Tare FW 1997–2007 68 10
10= Alban Bushi FW 1995–2007 67 14
Altin Haxhi MF 1995–2009 67 3
12 Armend Dallku DF 2005–2013 64 1
13 Altin Rraklli FW 1992–2005 63 11
14 Rudi Vata DF 1990–2001 59 5
15 Ervin Bulku MF 2002–2015 56 1
16 Etrit Berisha* GK 2012–2019 54 0 [b]
17 Hamdi Salihi* FW 2006–2015 50 11
18 Odise Roshi* MF 2011–2018 49 4 [b]
19= Mërgim Mavraj* DF 2012–2018 48 3
Arjan Xhumba DF 1994–2002 48 0
21= Elvin Beqiri DF 2002–2009 47 0
Jahmir Hyka* MF 2007–2018 47 2
23= Elseid Hysaj* DF 2013–2019 45 0 [b]
Sulejman Demollari MF 1983–1995 45 1
25 Debatik Curri DF 2006–2015 44 1
26= Arjan Beqaj GK 1998–2011 43 0
Besnik Hasi MF 2000–2007 43 2
Edvin Murati MF 1998–2006 42 4
29 Edmond Kapllani* FW 2004–2014 41 6
30 Ilir Shulku DF 1992–2000 40 1
31= Bledar Kola MF 1994–2002 39 6
Devi Muka MF 1998–2007 39 1
33 Hysen Zmijani MF 1984–1995 36 2
34= Ledian Memushaj* MF 2010–2019 35 2 [b]
Kristi Vangjeli DF 2008–2012 35 0
36= Geri Çipi DF 1995–2005 34 0
Armando Sadiku* FW 2012–2019 34 12 [b]
38 Migjen Basha* MF 2013–2019 32 3 [b]
39= Bekim Balaj* FW 2012–2019 31 6
Nevil Dede DF 1995–2007 31 0
Sokol Kushta FW 1987–1996 31 10
42= Arjan Bellaj MF 1994–2003 30 1
Artur Lekbello MF 1987–1996 30 0
44= Amir Abrashi* MF 2013–2019 29 1
Adrian Aliaj MF 2002–2006 29 8
46= Arben Minga FW 1980–1989 28 2
Panajot Pano FW 1963–1973 28 4
Taulant Xhaka* MF 2012–2019 28 1 [b]
47= Sokol Cikalleshi* FW 2014–2018 27 2 [b]
Mirel Josa MF 1984–1992 27 1
Burim Kukeli* MF 2012–2017 27 0
Ermir Lenjani* MF 2013–2018 27 3 [b]
Emiljano Vila* MF 2009–2014 27 3
54= Elis Bakaj MF 2007–2013 26 1
Ervin Fakaj DF 1995–2002 26 1
Florian Myrtaj FW 2002–2006 26 3
57 Indrit Fortuzi FW 1992–2002 25 1

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Players who are still active for the national team are players who have not retired from international football and are, subsequently, eligible to be called up.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Played in match against Kosovo that is not recognised by FIFA.
  3. ^ Some sources credit Lala with an appearance during a match against Luxembourg in 2002.[21] However, the majority of sources state the appearance was made by Devi Muka.[18][22]

References[]

  1. ^ "Komiteti Ekzekutiv". FSHF. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Di Maggio, Roberto. "Albania – International Matches – Overview". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Results Hint at Albanian Ascension". UEFA. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Why Does Israel's Football Team Play In Europe?". Sky News. 18 May 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Armenia 0–3 Albania". The Guardian. 11 October 2015. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  6. ^ Mezahi, Maher (23 June 2016). "Albania Leave France With Heads Held High After Historic Euro Campaign". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2018-11-06. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  7. ^ De Dekker, Guy. "Balkan Cup (For Nations)". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Rothmans Tournament 2000". eu-football.info. Archived from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  9. ^ a b c Mamrud, Roberto. "Lorik Cana – International Appearances". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 3 March 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  10. ^ MacPherson, Graeme (17 November 2018). "Passion For Past Inspires Cana's Future Ambitions". The Herald. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  11. ^ "Albania Get Heroes' Welcome Upon Return After Euro 2016 Exit". ESPN. 23 June 2016. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  12. ^ a b Mamrud, Roberto. "Erion Bogdani – Goals in International Matches". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  13. ^ a b Mamrud, Roberto. "Alban Bushi – Goals in International Matches". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  14. ^ a b c Mamrud, Roberto; Hoxha, Florian. "Albania – Record International Players". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  15. ^ "Panajot Pano". eu-football.info. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  16. ^ "Golden Players Take Centre Stage". UEFA. 29 November 2003. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  17. ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "Foto Strakosha". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 23 May 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  18. ^ a b Mamrud, Roberto. "Altin Lala". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 3 March 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  19. ^ "Kosovo 2–2 Albania". eu-football.info. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  20. ^ "Albania". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  21. ^ "Altin Lala". eu-football.info. Archived from the original on 1 October 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  22. ^ "Luxembourg v Albania, 13 February 2002". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2017.

External links[]

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