Rudiger, Ozil and Pogba lead the way as football stars take to social media

Footballers have taken to social media to mark the start of Ramadan, one of the most important periods in the Islamic calendar.

Ramadan began on the evening of Sunday March 10 and will run until April 9, and is a period in which those observing will refrain from eating or drinking from dawn until dusk for an entire month.

Currently, sunrise is at around 6am and sunset around 6pm, meaning those observing will be spending 12 hours a day fasting on average.

As well as the millions of other Muslims observing Ramadan - 1.8 billion people identify as Muslim globally - a number of high-profile footballers will also be fasting this month.

In addition to the general rigours professional sport incurs on the body, these athletes will be continuing to train and play multiple times a week all without the same refreshments, nutritional boosts and energy sources as their team-mates in a monumental undertaking.

A number of famous faces from the game have taken to Instagram to share their well-wishes to those observing the religious month.

Antonio Rudiger wrote on Instagram: 'Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslims around the world. May the almighty accept our fasting and prayers.'

Former Germany, Real Madrid and Arsenal star Mesut Ozil said: 'Ramadan Mubarak to all my Muslim brothers and sisters around the world. May this Ramadan bring us peace, joy and lots of blessings.'

Meanwhile Paul Pogba wished his followers: 'Ramadan Kareem.'

A number of other footballers also took to social media to post stories wishing their followers well to mark the start of the month.

Ilkay Gundogan, Nayef Aguerd, Sadio Mane and Hakim Ziyech also took to social media to mark the start of the holy period.

Last year, Arsenal star Mohammed Elneny claimed that footballers are not actually majorly impacted during Ramadan, despite the perception that they may struggle due to a lack of energy or dehydration.

The Egyptian international suggested that fasting brings satisfaction to Muslim players as it shows God is happy with them.

Elneny said: 'For us it's not a big difference. We're happy because Ramadan comes 30 days every year and you don't really think too much about how much you will be fasting. We do something for the God and the God is happy for us to do this.

'Every footballer when he trains he needs to drink. After training we eat food. Ramadan doesn't give you this but it gives you another thing, it gives you peace that God will be happy with you and the respect you're going to get from the people.

He added: 'How many goals has Salah scored? Some players when they are fasting and they are scoring goals you can see them and they're doing great.

'This shows it's actually something really good because God is happy with you.'

With many games during the holy month beginning just before sunset, a number of Premier League matches last season saw momentary pauses at the point the sun went down so any Muslim players observing Ramadan were able to take on food and drink.

Matches across the EFL and Premier League saw breaks at a convenient point in the first half after being forewarned by teams taking part.

The first Premier League game to feature an arranged stoppage in play was the fixture between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur in April last year, with Toffees trio Abdoulaye Doucoure, Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye all breaking their fasts.

Chelsea's draw with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge last term also saw a pre-arranged break in play, which then defender Kalidou Koulibaly claimed he had never seen in other leagues.

'When you come here and see that they stop games for Muslims to refuel, have some drinks and recharge a little bit, it is amazing.

'It never happened to me so that is why this feeling is amazing.

'I saw it on TV when Wesley was at Leicester breaking his fast during the game, it was amazing.

'When they do it for you, it is incredible. I was really happy and I look forward to it again.'

The BBC reported in 2023 that there were 253 Muslim players in the first teams and academies of the top four tiers of the English game and they're required to juggle training and matches with the obligations of the Islamic holy month.