Despite the Islamophobic and anti-immigrant sentiment that swept the United states and most of Europe over the past two decades, migrant and Muslim players led France to a remarkable victory in World Cup final on July 15.
Of the 23 players in the young French team, more than half are of African or Arab descent, an irony that led international media outlets to describe the French victory as ‘a victory for immigrants’.
On social media, people have been stressing the fact that migrants are celebrated when they bring glory, but discriminated against in many other aspects.
https://twitter.com/KhaledBeydoun/status/1018540593897705473
French footballers Paul Pogba and Djibril Sidibe doing Sajdah as Shukur after winning the #WorldCup and reminding us that is it also important to remember Allah during times of success, just as we remember Allah during times of distress.#UnapologeticallyMuslim pic.twitter.com/CUH4U7CwUK
— . (@Alhamdhulillaah) July 16, 2018
If France was as racist towards its immigrant football players as it towards most of its other population, they would never have won the World Cup. The majority of goals were scored by ‘immigrants’ (one of them a Muslim). Hopefully that will change the attitude of some of them.
— Dr. Yasir Qadhi (@YasirQadhi) July 15, 2018
France just won the #WorldCup
19 of its team's 23 players are immigrants or the children of immigrants
✊?✊?✊?✊?✊? pic.twitter.com/TUMu6oTD43— AJ+ (@ajplus) July 15, 2018
The #WorldCup trophey was brought to #FRA mostly by those ones who we would let drown in the Mediterranean Sea these days: the talented players from Sub-Saharan Africa and Maghreb. I don't know who made this sketch, but it is powerful! pic.twitter.com/KiZP72iljJ
— Nedad Memić (@NedadMemic) July 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/KhaledBeydoun/status/1018738092147175425
Kylian #Mbappé is donating his full earnings from the #WorldCup ($550,000) to a charity that gives free sports instruction to hospitalized and disabled children in sports.
What a gesture! ??? pic.twitter.com/Dqtn5JUCI1
— Free Super Tips (@FootySuperTips) July 16, 2018
Macron: Africa has a civilizational problem.
Also, Macron: Thank you for winning us ze world cup. ???#WorldCup #WorldCupFinal . pic.twitter.com/ipm2CS1Buo— Winds of Winter (@Maq_one) July 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/KhaledBeydoun/status/1018776149466501120
https://twitter.com/KhaledBeydoun/status/1018685273889177600
???? From sharing a single bed with his siblings. ?
? To winning the #WorldCup with France. ??
? What a journey it has been for @PaulPogba ? pic.twitter.com/s0Htu19j0u
— SPORF (@Sporf) July 16, 2018