Sokol Cikalleshi

Sokol Cikalleshi, born on July 27, 1990, is an accomplished Albanian professional footballer known for his prowess as a forward. Currently a free agent, he most recently showcased his skills with Adanaspor. Cikalleshi began his professional journey at the tender age of seventeen with his hometown club, Besa, marking his debut in 2007. His early career saw him loaned to several clubs, including Skënderbeu, Tirana, and the South Korean side Incheon United between 2011 and 2012.

In 2013, he joined Kukësi, where he made a significant impact by scoring twenty-two goals across all competitions during the 2013–14 season. This remarkable performance caught the attention of the Albania national team and led to his transfer to Croatian club RNK Split in 2014 for a reported fee of one hundred thousand euros. Cikalleshi continued to impress, becoming the club's top goalscorer in the 2014–15 season with thirteen goals before moving to Turkish club İstanbul Başakşehir in 2015 for a fee of one million eight hundred thousand euros.

On the international stage, Cikalleshi has established himself as a key player for the Albanian national team, scoring twelve goals and ranking as the joint active player top goalscorer alongside Armando Sadiku, and fourth overall. He represented Albania at the under-21 level, making four appearances and netting one goal. His senior debut came on May 31, 2014, against Romania, and he has since earned over fifty caps, contributing to the team's participation in the UEFA Euro 2016 squad.