Ismaïla Sarr

Early career

Born in Saint-Louis, Senegal, Sarr started his football career with Senegalese football club Génération Foot.

Metz

On 13 July 2016, Sarr signed his first professional contract with Metz for five years. He made his league debut as a substitute in a 3–2 win against Lille on 13 August, in Metz's first match of the 2016–17 Ligue 1 season. He made his first professional start in a 3–0 win at Nantes on 11 September. On 8 February 2017, Sarr scored his first Ligue 1 goal in a 2–1 win against Dijon. He went on to score four more goals in his final eight appearances of the season, ending 2016–17 with five goals and five assists from 31 league appearances.

Rennes

On 26 July 2017, Sarr signed a four-year contract with Ligue 1 side Rennes. The transfer fee paid to Metz was reported as €17 or 20 million, depending on the source. Sarr claimed that he had chosen to sign for Rennes ahead of Barcelona, saying: "I could have gone to Spain and join the great Barcelona, but leaving Metz to join them was too early. I saw Rennes as a club that will help me progress and reach great heights". Sarr made his debut for Rennes in the team's 2017–18 season opener against Troyes on 5 August 2017 and scored his first goal against Toulouse on 26 August. His first season at the Breton club was curtailed by a malleolus fracture sustained in a match against Saint-Étienne on 24 September. On 28 September, it was announced by coach Christian Gourcuff that Sarr's injury…

Sarr has represented his country with the Senegal U23 national team. In 2015, he played in 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations. At that time, his age was only 17. He contributed that Senegal finished the competition in a fourth place, playing three games. He played for the first time with Senegal national team for a match against Namibia in September 2016 in Dakar (2–0) for 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, for which Senegal had already qualified. As a symbol, he came into play in the 67th minute in place of the former resident of Génération Foot and Metz, Sadio Mané. On 8 January 2017, Sarr scored his first international goal in a friendly match against Libya in Stade Municipal de Kintélé, Brazzaville. In May 2018, he was named in Senegal's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He started all three group matches at the tournament as Senegal beat Poland 2–1, drew 2–2 with Japan and lost 1–0 to Colombia. In 2019, Sarr was part of the Senegal squad that reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, for only the second time in the nation's history. He played the full 90 minutes of the final on 19 July 2019, as they lost 1–0 to Algeria. Sarr was part of Senegal's squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations; the Lions of Teranga went on to win the tournament for the first time in their history. He scored once in a 3–1 win over Equatorial Guinea at the quarter-final stage. He was appointed a Grand Officer of the National Order of the Lion by President of Senegal…

Club

As of match played 27 May 2026

International

As of match played 1 July 2026

Scores and results list Senegal's goal tally first.

Sarr holds French citizenship from his mother.