Albanian Athletes in the NBA, NFL, and UFC: Who to Watch

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For a country of about 2.4 million people at its 2023 census (INSTAT), smaller than many large American metropolitan areas, Albania has produced a surprising number of athletes competing at the highest level of professional sport. Add in the Kosovar Albanian diaspora and the second-generation Albanian Americans, Canadians, and Australians raised in immigrant families, and the total rises further. An Albania-born player has been drafted into the NFL. Albanian-heritage fighters compete in the UFC and hold major boxing titles. They represent Albania and Kosovo internationally in soccer at the highest level. This is the guide to Albanian and Albanian-heritage athletes making a name in the top American professional leagues, plus the Albanian and Kosovar national teams’ presence on the global stage. The specific rosters shift year to year, this is a snapshot as of 2026, with the caveat that any active athlete list needs periodic updates. Athletes of Albanian and Kosovar heritage have established a growing presence in top American professional leagues. In the NBA, we have not found a documented Albanian-heritage player, though Kosovo’s national program has developed players for European leagues and Albanian Americans work in the sport, such as WNBA analyst Edona Thaqi. In the NFL, Albania-born Kristjan Sokoli was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2015. The UFC has hosted several Albanian-heritage fighters over the past decade, most notably Ilir Latifi, Ramiz Brahimaj and Benardo Sopaj. Beyond American leagues, Albania and Kosovo field national teams in soccer, wrestling, judo, weightlifting, and other sports, with individual athletes achieving elite international rankings. For the Albanian-American community, professional sports have become one of the most visible arenas of diaspora identity, alongside music and film. TLDR:

• Albanian and Kosovar heritage athletes are visible in NBA, NFL, UFC, and international soccer.
• The most visible presence has been in combat sports (UFC and boxing) and in European soccer.
• No Albanian-heritage NBA player is documented yet, but Kosovo’s basketball program has grown since it joined FIBA in 2015.
• UFC and MMA have hosted multiple Albanian and Kosovar fighters, benefiting from the strong combat sports tradition in the diaspora.
• Beyond American leagues, Albania and Kosovo compete internationally in soccer (with growing prominence), wrestling, judo, weightlifting, and taekwondo.
• Rosters change year to year, the article’s specific names should be updated periodically.

Albanian Athletes in the NBA

Basketball is a growing pathway into professional sport for Albanian and Kosovar talent. Both countries have domestic basketball leagues, and Kosovo-born or Kosovo-eligible players compete in European leagues. We have not found a reliable record of an NBA player of documented Albanian heritage, so this guide does not name one. Albanian Americans are present around the game, though:

• Edona Thaqi, a former Fordham player and Kosovo national team player, was named an analyst and reporter for USA Sports’ first season of WNBA coverage in 2026 (Fordham Athletics; see our profile of Edona Thaqi)
• College players of Albanian heritage compete in NCAA basketball, and some go on to play for Kosovo or Albania internationally

Kosovar players in particular have benefited from Kosovo’s basketball federation joining FIBA (international basketball’s governing body) in 2015, which opened official international competition to them.

Albanian Athletes in the NFL

American football is a newer arena for Albanian athletes than soccer or combat sports, but it has one clear milestone:

• Kristjan Sokoli, born in Albania, moved to the United States as a child, played on the defensive line at the University at Buffalo, and was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2015 (214th overall). He later spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints and New York Giants, switching to the offensive line, and has been described as the first Albanian player to take the field in the NFL (American Football International)
• High school and college players of Albanian descent compete in areas with large Albanian-American communities, such as Metro Detroit and New York

Albanian Athletes in the UFC and MMA

Combat sports have arguably produced the most visible Albanian and Kosovar athletes in American professional sports. The UFC has hosted several fighters of Albanian heritage, and many more compete in European MMA and boxing. Notable Albanian and Kosovar fighters have included:

• Ilir Latifi, born in Malmö, Sweden, to Albanian parents from Kosovo, who fought 16 times in the UFC at light heavyweight and heavyweight (UFC)
• Ramiz Brahimaj, a Bronx-born, first-generation Albanian-American UFC welterweight (UFC)
• Benardo Sopaj, an Albania-born UFC bantamweight who trains in Stockholm (UFC)
• Multiple younger fighters from the Albanian and Kosovar diaspora communities in Europe (especially Switzerland, Germany, and Sweden) who have moved to major MMA promotions
• Boxers such as Kosovo-born Robin Krasniqi, who won the IBO and interim WBA light heavyweight titles in 2020

The combat sports pipeline benefits from a long tradition in Albanian culture. Wrestling has long been practiced in Albania, and boxers of Albanian heritage have competed in Europe for decades. The transition from these traditions to modern MMA has been natural for many athletes.

Beyond American Leagues: International Soccer

Albania and Kosovo both field national soccer teams that have achieved significant international profile. Notable modern soccer players of Albanian and Kosovar heritage include:

• Xherdan Shaqiri, born in Gjilan, Kosovo, Swiss international, played for Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Liverpool, and other clubs
• Granit Xhaka, Swiss international of Kosovar Albanian heritage, former Arsenal captain who later won the 2023-24 Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen
• Taulant Xhaka, brother of Granit, has represented Albania at international level
• Armando Broja, Kristjan Asllani, Nedim Bajrami, new-generation Albanian international players
• Edon Zhegrova, Vedat Muriqi, Bersant Celina, Kosovo international players
• Historical figures, including Igli Tare and other pre-current generation stars

Albania’s national team qualifying for EURO 2016, its first major tournament, was a landmark moment for the country, and Albania qualified again for EURO 2024 (see our guide to the Albania national football team). Kosovo’s admission to UEFA and FIFA in 2016 opened international competitive pathways for a new generation of Kosovar players. For diaspora Albanian Americans, following the Albanian and Kosovar national teams, as well as European clubs featuring Albanian-heritage players, has become one of the most consistent expressions of transnational identity.

Wrestling, Judo, and Combat Sports

Beyond MMA, Albania and Kosovo have produced Olympic-level wrestlers, judokas, and weightlifters. Recent standouts include:

• Distria Krasniqi and Nora Gjakova, Kosovar judokas who won Olympic gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Games (held in 2021)
• Majlinda Kelmendi, pioneer Kosovar judoka who won gold at Rio 2016
• Albanian and Kosovar weightlifters and wrestlers competing at European and World Championship level

The Kelmendi, Krasniqi and Gjakova generation of Kosovar judokas has been especially transformative, giving Kosovo, which joined the IOC in 2014, three Olympic gold medals in its first two Summer Games.

The Community Reception

Albanian-heritage athletes at any level are followed intensely by the Albanian-American community. When an Albanian-heritage athlete reaches the NBA, NFL, UFC, or a major international stage, the coverage in Albanian community media is substantial. Family members are interviewed. Their village of origin (or their parents’ village) is celebrated. Their achievements are treated as community achievements. This is true even when the athlete’s Albanian identity is complex, for example, second- or third-generation Albanian Americans who may not speak Albanian fluently but who acknowledge their heritage publicly. The community’s inclusive approach to identifying “Albanian” athletes has helped create the sense of a broad diaspora sports presence. Young Albanian Americans looking for role models often point to these athletes. Their success stories, from Metro Detroit or the Bronx to a professional roster or Olympic podium, have been part of what has shifted Albanian-American self-perception in recent decades.

Where to Follow Albanian Athletes

• Albanian and Kosovar sports federations, official announcements and roster news
• UEFA, FIFA, FIBA, UFC, and other league websites, statistical and biographical information for individual athletes
• ESPN, The Athletic, and mainstream American sports media, coverage of Albanian-heritage athletes in US professional sports
• Albanian and Balkan media, including Balkan Insight, Albanian broadcasters, ALB Connection coverage, and diaspora newspapers
• Social media, many Albanian-heritage athletes maintain public profiles and engage regularly with the diaspora community

Because roster changes and career developments happen year-round, keeping up with active Albanian-heritage athletes requires periodic checks against current sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Albanians are in the NBA?

We have not found a reliable record of any NBA player of documented Albanian heritage as of October 2026. Kosovar basketball has developed since Kosovo joined FIBA in 2015, and Albanian Americans are visible around the game, including WNBA analyst Edona Thaqi.

Who is the most famous Albanian-heritage soccer player?

Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka, both Kosovar Swiss internationals, are among the most famous. Shaqiri played for Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and Liverpool. Xhaka was Arsenal’s club captain in 2019 and later won the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen. Both chose to represent Switzerland internationally but have publicly celebrated their Kosovar Albanian heritage.

Are there Albanian fighters in the UFC?

Yes. Fighters of Albanian heritage who have competed in the UFC include Ilir Latifi (Sweden), Ramiz Brahimaj (the Bronx) and Benardo Sopaj (born in Albania). Many more compete in European promotions. See our guide to Albanian MMA fighters.

Who won Kosovo’s first Olympic gold medals?

Majlinda Kelmendi won Kosovo’s first Olympic gold medal, in judo, at the Rio 2016 Games, Kosovo’s first Olympics as an independent nation. Distria Krasniqi and Nora Gjakova won judo gold medals at Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021), continuing Kosovo’s remarkable judo success.

How does Albania compete in international soccer?

Albania’s national team is a member of UEFA and FIFA. Albania qualified for EURO 2016, its first major international tournament, and qualified again for EURO 2024. Kosovo joined UEFA and FIFA in 2016 and has been building its national team since then.

Are second-generation Albanian Americans included when the community talks about “Albanian athletes”?

Yes. The Albanian-American community generally has an inclusive approach, a second- or third-generation American with Albanian ancestry who publicly acknowledges their heritage is celebrated as “Albanian” regardless of their birthplace or primary language. This is similar to how other diaspora communities (Italian-American, Irish-American, etc.) celebrate ancestry-connected athletes.

Where do most Albanian-heritage American athletes come from?

Many come from areas with large Albanian-American populations, such as Metro Detroit, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester County, Boston and Chicago. UFC welterweight Ramiz Brahimaj, for example, grew up in the Bronx.

How can I find up-to-date lists of Albanian athletes in professional sports?

League websites (NBA.com, NFL.com, UFC.com, UEFA.com, FIFA.com) provide official rosters. Albanian community media and Balkan sports coverage typically feature diaspora athletes prominently. Because rosters change constantly, any published list will need updates for the current season.

Related Reading

• Famous Albanian Boxers: Champions Carrying the Double-Headed Eagle
• Albanian MMA Fighters: Athletes Representing Albanian Heritage
• Albanian-Americans in US Professional Sports
• Albanian Soccer Players in European Top Leagues
• Albania National Football Team
• Kosovo National Football Team