Enes Sali

Enes Sali
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-02-23) 23 February 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team
 FC Dallas
Number 99
Youth career
2012–2017 Woodbridge Strikers
2017–2018 Barcelona
2018–2021 Gheorghe Hagi Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2024 Farul Constanța 50 (4)
2024– FC Dallas 0 (0)
2024– → North Texas SC (loan) 25 (8)
International career‡
2021 Romania U16 3 (1)
2021–2023 Romania U17 14 (4)
2022– Romania U19 10 (2)
2021– Romania 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 November 2023

Enes Sali (born 23 February 2006) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a winger for Major League Soccer club FC Dallas. Born in Canada, he represents Romania at international level.

Early life

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Sali played youth football for Woodbridge Strikers until the age of 11. In 2017, he was scouted by Barcelona during an international tournament and moved to the Catalans for two seasons, before they encountered issues with FIFA and had to release him. Former Romanian international Gheorghe Hagi then persuaded Sali's father to move back to Romania with his son, in order for the youngster to join Viitorul Constanța's academy.[2]

Club career

Sali registered his senior debut for the now-renamed Farul Constanța on 9 August 2021, aged 15, in a 1–0 Liga I victory over Sepsi OSK.[3] On 13 September that year, he became the youngest player to score in the Liga I at 15 years, six months and 21 days, after netting the last goal in a 5–0 defeat of Academica Clinceni.[4] On 11 October 2023, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide.[5]

Sali signed a multi-year contract with American Major League Soccer club FC Dallas on 4 December 2023.[6] He began the season with their second team, North Texas SC, in MLS Next Pro, scoring his first goal in his third appearance on April 14.[7] He made his FC Dallas debut on 1 August 2024, in a 2024 Leagues Cup match against Mexican side Juárez.[8]

International career

Born in Canada to Romanian parents, Sali was eligible to represent both Canada and Romania at international level.

On 3 November 2021, aged 15, Sali was selected by the Romania national team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Iceland and Liechtenstein.[9] Romanian newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor later reported that Canada had also approached him for a possible call up.[10] Sali made his senior debut on 14 November by coming on as an 82nd minute substitute for Andrei Ivan in the latter match, and became the youngest European player to appear in a competitive game at 15 years and 264 days (Lucas Knecht holds the record for any player in any match type).[11][12]

Personal life

Sali's parents met in Constanța, Romania, and are both of Turkish descent. After getting married, they relocated to Canada where his mother's family had been living for several decades. In 2019, Sali's father moved back to Romania with his son.[13][14]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 6 October 2024[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Farul Constanța 2021–22 Liga I 20 1 0 0 — — 20 1
2022–23 Liga I 19 2 3 0 — — 22 2
2023–24 Liga I 11 1 3 0 1[a] 0 1 0 16 1
FC Dallas 2024 Major League Soccer 0 0 0 0 — 1 0 1 0
North Texas SC (loan) 2024 MLS Next Pro 25 8 — — 4[b] 1 29 9
Career total 75 12 6 0 1 0 6 1 88 13
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in MLS Next Pro Playoffs

International

As of match played 14 November 2021[15]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Romania
2021 1 0
Total 1 0

Honours

Farul Constanța[1]

North Texas SC

References

  1. ^ a b c Enes Sali at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  2. ^ "A dat un gol fabulos și l-a vrăjit pe Hagi! Cine e Enes Sali, puștiul care a marcat ca Maradona" [He scored a fabulous goal and enchanted Hagi! Who is Enes Sali, the kid who scored like Maradona] (in Romanian). Eurosport România. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Un fotbalist de doar 15 ani a debutat pentru Farul! A fost și în La Masia" [A 15-year-old football player made his debut for Farul! He was also in La Masia] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Enes Sali, direct în istoria fotbalului românesc! Record bătut în Liga 1 după 44 de ani" [Enes Sali, straight into the history of Romanian football! Record broken in Liga 1 after 44 years]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  5. ^ Christenson, Marcus; Bloor, Steven; Blight, Garry (11 October 2023). "Next Generation 2023: 60 of the best young talents in world football". theguardian.com. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  6. ^ "FC Dallas Signs Romanian International Enes Sali". FCDallas.com. FC Dallas. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  7. ^ "North Texas SC Downs Tacoma Defiance 2-1 to Earn First Win of the Season". FC Dallas. 14 April 2024.
  8. ^ Epperley, Drew (1 August 2024). "FC Dallas crashes out of 2024 Leagues Cup with 2-0 loss to FC Juarez". Big D Soccer.
  9. ^ "26 de jucători convocați de Mirel Rădoi pentru partidele cu Islanda și Liechtenstein din finalul preliminariilor CM 2022" [26 players called up by Mirel Rădoi for the final WC 2022 qualifying matches against Iceland and Liechtenstein] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  10. ^ "EXCLUSIV Naționala care stă la pândă pentru Enes Sali » Tatăl jucătorului, contactat de antrenor: "Eu asta sper"" [EXCLUSIVE The national team lurking for Enes Sali » The player's father, contacted by the coach: "This is what I hope"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  11. ^ Grant, Tom (14 November 2021). "Who is Enes Sali? The 15-year-old record-breaking Romania international". Football Transfers.
  12. ^ Lawrence, Saoirse (14 November 2021). "Enes Sali (15) the youngest international ever? Nope, he's not even in the top 30". Netherlands News Live. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Ce-i unește pe Enes Sali și Emma Răducanu, senzațiile momentului în fotbalul românesc și tenis" [What unites Enes Sali and Emma Răducanu, the current sensations of Romanian football and tennis]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Cum a trăit tatăl lui Enes Sali golul istoric al puștiului de la Farul: "Eram puțin supărat pentru că nu a dat pasă"" [How Enes Sali's father lived the historic goal of the Farul youngster: "I was a little upset because he didn't pass"] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Enes Sali". European Football. Retrieved 15 November 2021.