Islam Slimani

In the final round, he scored his 27th goal of the season against Braga.

The match ended 4–0 but was not enough for Sporting to win the league title, as Benfica ended with more two points.

That season, Slimani scored 27 goals in the league but finished behind top scorer Jonas, with 32 goals.

For the following season, Sporting wanted to retain Slimani but he insisted on leaving the club, and that was finally accepted by the administration.

Islam Slimani (إسلام سليماني; born 18 June 1988) is an Algerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Belgian Pro League club K.V. Mechelen and the Algeria national team.

Slimani began his career in his homeland with JSM Chéraga and CR Belouizdad.

In May 2009, Slimani joined CR Belouizdad from JSM Chéraga for a transfer fee of 800,000 Algerian dinars, signing a two-year contract.

In August, he made his official debut for the club as a starter against MC Oran in the first week of the 2009–10 Algerian Championnat National.

He finished his first season with Belouizdad with 8 goals in 30 games.

On 17 May 2011, Slimani scored four goals in a league game against JS Kabylie, leading CR Belouizdad to an impressive 7–1 win.

In July 2011, with his contract expired and several French clubs such as Nice and Le Havre showing interest in signing him, Slimani decided to sign a two-year extension with CR Belouizdad.

An Algerian international, Slimani made his international debut in 2012 and played at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2021 and 2023, and was also a part of the Algeria side that won the 2019 tournament.

In 2013, he moved to Europe, signing for Sporting CP.

On 6 August 2013, Slimani joined Sporting CP for an undisclosed fee.

He started the 2013–14 season as a substitute, gaining a reputation as an impact player due to him scoring vital goals when coming off the bench.

In December 2013 he was considered the best Algerian footballer of the year as he won the Algerian Golden Ball.

In his second season Slimani was successful as he became a key player.

His first goal of the season was in the Derby de Lisboa 1–1 away draw to Benfica.

At European level Slimani scored his first goal against Schalke 04 at Estádio José Alvalade in the last minute to finish 4–2 for Sporting.

He was additionally part of Algeria's squad at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he finished as the team's joint top scorer with two goals.

As of January 2024, he has won over 100 international caps and scored 45 goals, making him Algeria's highest all-time goalscorer.

Slimani was born in Algiers, Algeria.

Due to the lack of form of Fredy Montero, however, Slimani became a starter and scored four goals in four matches in early March 2014 against Rio Ave, Braga, Vitória de Setúbal and in 1–0 over rivals Porto.

He played and scored regularly during his three seasons in Portugal, helping his team win the Taça de Portugal in 2015.

At the end of the season he finished third in the league, but in the Taça de Portugal he reached the final against Braga on 31 May 2015, slimani scored a goal helping Sporting turn around a two-goal deficit to eventually secure the cup following a penalty shootout 3–1.

where he achieved his first title in his history at the end of the season Slimani played 33 games and scored 15 goals, including 12 in the league.

In the 2015–16 season, Slimani said it would be his last season and that he aspires to achieve the title of the Primeira Liga, which had been absent from the club for 14 years.

The new and former Benfica coach Jorge Jesus said he would rely heavily on Slimani to win the titles and the start was in the Supertaça against Benfica and ended for Sporting with a single goal, achieving his second title.

At the start of the tournament, Slimani scored his first goal against Académica in an away match on 4 October 2015, and in the seventh round against Vitória de Guimarães, he scored his first hat-trick in the Portuguese league.

At the top of the 15th round, Slimani managed to score two goals against Porto's goalkeeper Iker Casillas to lead the team back to the top of the league.

After this game, Slimani scored in four consecutive games 6 goals against Vitória de Setúbal, Braga, Tondela and Paços de Ferreira.

After two matches, he returned to score twice at Nacional.

Before Sporting's league derby match at home, Benfica lodged a complaint against Slimani for assaulting Andreas Samaris with his elbow in a Portuguese Cup match on 21 November 2015.

After a long wait and one day before the match, the Portuguese League announced that Slimani could participate in the decisive match for the title.

However, the team lost 1–0 and dropped to second place, behind Benfica.

One week later, he scored his 20th goal this season in the match against Estoril.

After this meeting, he scored four goals against Belenenses, Marítimo and Moreirense, and Porto.

Slimani contributed to the victory at Estádio do Dragão after scoring two goals.

In 2016, Slimani was transferred to Leicester for a club record £28 million fee.

On 28 August 2016, he played his last match against Porto at Estádio José Alvalade and scored his last goal to finish 2–1 for Sporting.