Ali Saleh (footballer)
Ali Saleh is an Emirati professional footballer who plays for Al Wasl Club and the UAE National Football Team as a forward. Ali was awarded the 2018-19 Arabian Gulf League’s Golden Boy Award. He made his debut in 2016, the day after his 16th birthday to become the youngest player to feature in the Arabian Gulf League. Saleh is currently being trained as one of the young upcoming stars to participate in the 2022 FIFA World Cup with the UAE National Team. Ali is also signed as an official Nike Athlete for the next couple of years.
Ali started his career at Al Wasl Club at the age of 6. Around the age of 13 he was benched for an entire season without a minute of playing time. This filled Ali with doubt and made him question his skills as a footballer. However, with the constant support of his father, Ali stayed patient and continued to work hard. He made his comeback at 16 years old against Al Ain FC and entered the history books of UAE football as the youngest-ever to play in the clubs First Team.
Early life
Ali Saleh was born in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. His father is a UAE national and his mother from Edinburgh, Scotland. Ali is the eldest of 4 siblings. He has 1 brother and 2 sisters. The family would often spend the summer months of Dubai in Scotland.At a very young age Ali would constantly be playing football in his compound. He drew attention to his father once he realized his sons’ potential to go professional.
Club career
Ali Saleh joined Al Wasl FC in 2006 and has played for Al Wasl's under-14, under-15, under-16 clubs. He was then selected to play in the Clubs First team at the early age of 16, which lead him to be the youngest draft to the First Team in UAE history.International career
Ali was selected to play on the UAE National Team in 2019, at the age of 19.International goals
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| — | 31 August 2019 | Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain | 5–1 | 5–1 | Unofficial friendly |
Style of Play
Ali plays as a forward and is known for his speedy footwork on the field. He is also recognized for his excellent ball control, shooting skills and on-pitch positioning.Outside Football
Ali Saleh is attending American University in the Emirates, majoring in International Relations. Ali also spends a lot of his time with family and dog Zeus. He is also a huge sneaker collector.Media
Ali Saleh has been interviewed by numerous publication such as The National and Gulf News. He also was recorded live in the studio with Dubai Eye 103.8 discussing his recent Golden Boy Award title.In May 2019, Gulf News writes up an exclusive on Ali Saleh and label him as 'UAE football's boy to become king'. The article is accompanied by a raw video where Ali talks about his life.
In November 2019, Ali was featured on the cover of Esquire Middle East magazine. He was named the one of the top ten people who will help shape the region over the next decade.
December 2019, Ali did a collaboration with sports magazine, Sports 360 and Cadillac on the release of the new XT6, which was released this February.
Sponsorships
In May 2019 Ali signed an exclusive long term contract with sportswear company Nike.;Notes