Lili Iskandar Explained

Lili Iskandar
Fullname:Layla Pascal Iskandar
Birth Date:16 May 2002
Birth Place:Zgharta, Lebanon
Height:1.72 m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Al-Ittihad
Clubnumber:12
Youthclubs1:Salam Zgharta
Years1:2018–2019
Clubs1:Salam Zgharta
Goals1:10
Years2:2019–2021
Clubs2:SAS
Goals2:15
Years3:2021–2022
Clubs3:HB Køge
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2022–2024
Clubs4:Etihad
Caps4:24
Goals4:19
Years5:2023–2024
Clubs5:Al-Ittihad (loan)
Caps5:13
Goals5:4
Years6:2024–
Clubs6:Al-Ittihad
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Nationalyears1:2018–2019
Nationalteam1:Lebanon U18
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:7
Nationalyears2:2019–2020
Nationalteam2:Lebanon U19
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:3
Nationalyears3:2018–
Nationalteam3:Lebanon
Nationalcaps3:21
Nationalgoals3:12
Club-Update:11:21, 19 July 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:21:54, 30 September 2023 (UTC)

Layla Pascal "Lili" Iskandar (Arabic: ليلى باسكال "ليلي" اسكندر; born 16 May 2002) is a Lebanese footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi Women's Premier League club Al-Ittihad and the Lebanon national team. A versatile forward, Iskandar can also play as a winger.

Starting out at Salam Zgharta in 2018–19, Iskandar moved to reigning champions SAS. In her first season at the club (2019–20), she helped SAS lift their fifth league title, scoring 15 goals in the process. Iskandar joined Danish side HB Køge for the 2021–22 season. In 2022 she moved to Etihad in Jordan, winning the 2023 league title as top goalscorer (14 goals). At the end of the season, Iskandar joined Saudi club Al-Ittihad.

Iskandar represented Lebanon at the youth level, winning the 2019 WAFF U-18 Girls Championship as the competition's top scorer. Iskandar has also played at senior level since 2018. She helped Lebanon finish runners-up at the WAFF Women's Championship in 2022 as the competition's best player, and in third place in 2019. Iskandar is the Lebanon women's national team top goalscorer.

Club career

Lebanon

Iskandar played for hometown club Salam Zgharta during the 2018–19 season, scoring 10 goals.[1] [2] In 2019 she moved to reigning champions SAS. In the final matchday of the season, Iskandar scored a brace against EFP to help her side win the 2019–20 league title.[3] She ended the season with 15 goals,[4] scoring at a rate of more than one goal per game.[5]

HB Køge

On 9 July 2021, Iskandar joined HB Køge ahead of the 2021–22 Danish Women's League on a one-year contract.[6]

Etihad

On 3 July 2022, Iskandar moved to Jordan Women's Pro League club Etihad.[7] She cited reuniting with former Lebanon national team coach Wael Gharzeddine as the main reason for joining the club.[8] Iskandar scored her first goal on 17 July, helping Etihad beat Al-Nasr 3–0 in the league.[9] She finished the season with five goals in 12 games, helping her side finish runners-up in the league and the cup.[10]

On 2 September 2023, Iskandar led Ettihad to win the 2023 Jordanian-Saudi Women's Clubs Championship as top scorer with four goals.[11] She finished the 2023 Jordan Women's Pro League as top scorer with 14 goals in 12 games, helping Etihad win their first league title.[12]

Al-Ittihad

In October 2023, Iskandar joined Al-Ittihad during the 2023–24 Saudi Women's Premier League on loan until the end of the season.[13] [14] She finished the season with seven goals and one assist in 17 games in all competitions. In July 2024, Al-Ittihad signed her on a permanent contract for one year.[15]

International career

Youth

Iskandar's first international goal came on her debut for the Lebanon under-19 national team, on 24 October 2018, in a 2019 AFC U-19 Championship qualification match against Hong Kong U19.[16] She played four games during the qualifiers, scoring once. Iskandar was the top goalscorer of the 2019 WAFF U-18 Championship, which she won, scoring seven goals in five matches.[17]

In December 2020, Iskandar played two friendly games against Egypt U19, a 3–1 defeat and a 3–2 win, scoring in both games.[18] [19] With her two goals against Egypt, Iskandar became the first player to reach 10 goals for the under-18 and under-19 teams.[20]

Senior

Iskandar's senior debut for Lebanon came on 8 November 2018, coming on as a substitute against Iran in a 2020 AFC Olympic qualification match.[21] Iskandar also played four games for Lebanon at the 2019 WAFF Championship, helping her team reach third place.[22]

On 24 October 2021, Iskandar scored her first goal in a 2022 AFC Asian Cup qualification game against Guam, which ended in a 3–0 win.[23] Iskandar took part in the 2022 WAFF Championship; she helped her side finish runners-up as the tournament's best player,[24] scoring one goal against Palestine on 29 August.[25] On 8 April 2023, Iskandar scored her first international brace in a 5–0 win against Indonesia in the 2024 AFC Olympic Qualifying Tournament.[26] On 30 September 2023, Iskandar scored in the 102nd minute of the 2023 SAFF Friendly Tournament final, a 1–0 win against Bhutan. In the process, she broke Christy Maalouf's record of eight international goals for Lebanon.[27]

Iskandar opened the 2024 WAFF Championship with a hat-trick against Guam on 19 February 2024, helping her side win 4–3; she became the first player to score 10 goals for her national team.[28] Iskandar's third goal of the match was also the Lebanon women's national team's 100th of all time.[29]

Style of play

Iskandar is an attacking midfielder with good finishing, who is also capable of creating attacking chances.

Personal life

Iskandar speaks three languages: English, French, and Arabic. Her idol is American footballer Alex Morgan, who she described as a "lady on and off the pitch".[30]

Career statistics

International

Scores and results list Lebanon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Iskandar goal.

List of international goals scored by Lili Iskandar
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan2–03–02022 AFC Asian Cup qualification
2Petra Stadium, Amman, Jordan3–03–02022 WAFF Championship
3Fouad Chehab Stadium, Jounieh, Lebanon1–11–2Friendly
4Fouad Chehab Stadium, Jounieh, Lebanon1–05–02024 AFC Olympic Qualifying Tournament
55–0
6Ansar Stadium, Ansar, Lebanon3–05–0Friendly
7King Fahd Sports City, Taif, Saudi Arabia4–04–12023 SAFF Friendly Tournament
8King Fahd Sports City, Taif, Saudi Arabia1–03–22023 SAFF Friendly Tournament
9King Fahd Sports City, Taif, Saudi Arabia1–01–02023 SAFF Friendly Tournament
10King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia1–24–32024 WAFF Championship
113–3
124–3

Honours

SAS

Etihad

Lebanon U18

Lebanon

Individual

Records

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Schöggl. Hans. Lebanon (Women) 2018/19. 9 July 2021. RSSSF.
  2. Web site: Rocchi. Filippo. 28 March 2021. La giovane Layla "Lili" Iskandar alla conquista dell'Europa. 7 April 2020. Calcio Femminile Italiano. it-IT.
  3. Web site: 1 March 202. SAS champions of the 2019–20 Lebanese Women's Football League!. 9 July 2021. FA Lebanon. en.
  4. Web site: Nehme. Ale. Lebanon (Women) 2019/20. 9 July 2021. RSSSF.
  5. Web site: 7 September 2020. GameChangers: Lili Iskandar's unshakeable dream. 7 September 2020. The AFC. en-GB.
  6. Web site: 9 July 2021. ar:ليلي اسكندر تنضم إلى نادي HB Køge الدنماركي. Lili Iskandar joins Danish club HB Køge. 9 July 2021. Lebanese Football Association.
  7. Cfj9GF5IzcZ. etihadclubjo. Etihad Club officially signs with Lebanon Women’s National Team player Layla Iskandar. 3 July 2022. Etihad Club.
  8. Web site: 2022-08-08 . إسكندر: آمل الفوز بلقب "المحترفات" مع الاتحاد.. ولا أهتم بالأرقام الفردية (فيديو) . 2022-08-13 . جريدة الغد . ar.
  9. Web site: 2022-07-17 . الاتحاد يكسب النصر بثلاثية في دوري المحترفات . 2022-08-13 . جريدة الغد . ar.
  10. Web site: 21 December 2022 . نادي الاتحاد يدخل التاريخ في أول مشاركة له . 23 December 2022 . . ar . Facebook.
  11. Web site: JFA - الاتحاد يتوج بلقب بطولة أندية السيدات 2023 . 2023-09-02 . JFA - الاتحاد الاردني لكرة القدم . ar.
  12. Web site: الذهب لا يفارق ليلى اسكندر . Lebanese Women's Football . Facebook . ar . 19 September 2023 .
  13. CyYvNM8sv0B. falebanon. 14 October 2023. FA Lebanon. ar:تعاقد نادي الاتحاد السعودي مع الهدافة التاريخية للمنتخب اللبناني ليلى اسكندر. Saudi club Al-Ittihad signed the Lebanon national team top scorer Layla Iskandar.
  14. C9mLuxcMxJw . thelfawomen . . 19 July 2024 . ar: ليلى اسكندر تنتقل بصفة دائمة لنادي الاتحاد السعودي بعد أن مثّلت الفريق في الموسم الماضي على سبيل الإعارة من نادي الاتحاد الأردني . Layla Iskandar is moving to Saudi Arabia on a permanent basis after representing the team last season on loan from Jordanian club Etihad..
  15. Web site: Aljadaani . Rayan . 18 July 2024 . ar:صورة: اتحاد جدة يعلن بقاء نجمة لبنان . Photo: Al-Ittihad Jeddah announces the stay of the Lebanese star . 19 July 2024 . Kooora.
  16. Web site: 24 October 2018. Match Report of Hong Kong U19 vs Lebanon U19. 9 July 2021. Global Sports Archive.
  17. Web site: 13 August 2020. Lebanon Crowned the WAFF U18 Girls Title. 9 July 2021. The WAFF.
  18. Web site: Mahfoud. Maroun. 23 December 2020. Lebanon's U-19 lose their first friendly. 26 December 2020. FA Lebanon. en-GB.
  19. Web site: 26 December 2020. ar:فوز شابات لبنان على مصر وديّاً. Lebanon's young women beat Egypt in a friendly. 28 December 2020. Lebanese Football Association. ar.
  20. CJVlU7vAS-8. falebanon. Lili Iskandar needed just 13 matches to reach her 10th goal with the U-19 National Team. 28 December 2020.
  21. Web site: 8 November 2018. Match Report of Iran vs Lebanon. 8 March 2020. Global Sports Archive.
  22. Web site: WAFF Women's Championship 2019 Bahrain. 28 December 2020. Global Sports Archive.
  23. Web site: 24 October 2021. Lebanon finish in style. 24 October 2021. the-afc.com.
  24. Web site: 5 September 2022 . ar:الأردن يتوج ببطولة السيدات السابعة.. ويضيف اللقب الخامس إلى سجله . Jordan win the seventh women's championship.. and add a fifth title to their record . 5 September 2022 . . ar.
  25. Web site: بطولة غرب اسيا لكرة القدم للسيدات: ثلاثية نظيفة للبنان امام فلسطين . 2022-08-29 . Elsport News . ar.
  26. Web site: 8 April 2023 . ar:أول 3 نقاط في التصفيات الأولمبية.. خماسية لبنانية في مرمى إندونيسيا . The first 3 points in the Olympic qualifiers... five goals for Lebanon against Indonesia . 11 April 2023 . . ar.
  27. Web site: منتخب لبنان بطلاً للبطولة الدولية للسيدات . Lebanese Football Association . ar . 1 October 2023 .
  28. Web site: Toufaily . Assile . 19 February 2024 . WAFF Women’s Championship: Lili Iskandar Offers Lebanon The Win, Jordan Defeats Saudi Arabia . 19 February 2024 . Forbes.
  29. C3k2FXJsp-S . thelfawomen . . 20 February 2024 . 21 February 2024 . ar . ar:هدف ليلى اسكندر الثالث الأمس امام غوام هو الهدف رقم ١٠٠ في تاريخ المنتخب.
  30. Web site: 5 March 2020. New horizons for women's football in Lebanon. 6 March 2020. FIFA.
  31. Web site: Lebanon National Team All-Time Stats Women . 15 April 2021 . FA Lebanon.