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Enes Sali

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.

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. 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. On 11 October 2023, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide.

Sali signed a multi-year contract with American Major League Soccer club FC Dallas on 4 December 2023. 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.

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. Romanian newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor later reported that Canada had also approached him for a possible call up. 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).

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.