21 Facts About Idrissa Gueye

Idrissa Gana Gueye was born on 26 September 1989 and is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Everton and the Senegal national team.

Idrissa Gueye would go on to play for the side's first team from 2010 to 2015, winning a Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double in 2011, before moving to England with Aston Villa.

In 2019, Idrissa Gueye returned to France by signing for the reigning Ligue 1 champions, Paris Saint-Germain.

Idrissa Gueye reached the 2020 UEFA Champions League Final with the club, but did not play in the match in which PSG lost.

Idrissa Gueye was part of the Senegalese squad at the 2012 Summer Olympics, where he played one match.

Idrissa Gueye played for Senegal at two FIFA World Cup and four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

Idrissa Gueye is Senegal's record cap holder and the first Senegalese player to reach over 100 caps.

Idrissa Gueye became a regular starter in the league and the UEFA Champions League over the following four seasons.

In total, Idrissa Gueye made 35 league appearances for Villa as the club was relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season.

Idrissa Gueye made the highest number of successful tackles and interceptions per match across Europe's top five leagues over the 2016 calendar year.

Idrissa Gueye scored his first goal for Everton in European competition on 17 August 2017 in the UEFA Europa League play-off round first leg against Hajduk Split.

Idrissa Gueye scored the opening goal of the match, his first goal in the Champions League, and was given the Player of the Match award.

Idrissa Gueye began talks to return to Everton in early August 2022.

Idrissa Gueye was part of the team at the 2012 Olympics, but was injured just before the interval in the opening game against hosts Great Britain.

Idrissa Gueye was selected for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015, and 2017.

Idrissa Gueye was named in Senegal's 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Idrissa Gueye is married to Pauline, with whom he has two sons.

Idrissa Gueye is a practising Muslim and has made the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Idrissa Gueye was appointed a Grand Officer of the National Order of the Lion by President of Senegal Macky Sall following the nation's victory at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Idrissa Gueye had notably missed the same fixture in the previous season, with the reasoning behind his non-participation then being that he was suffering from gastroenteritis.

Senegalese president Macky Sall expressed his support for Idrissa Gueye, justifying the position by stating that Idrissa Gueye's "religious beliefs must be respected".