Xherdan Shaqiri
A Swiss football maestro with a powerful left foot and a low center of gravity, known for decisive goals on the biggest stages.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Swiss footballer·Birthday: October 10·Millennials
Biography
Xherdan Shaqiri is a footballer who packs immense talent into a compact frame, earning nicknames like 'The Alpine Messi' and 'The Power Cube.' Born in Kosovo to Albanian parents, his family sought asylum in Switzerland when he was a child. His footballing genius was evident early, and he rose through the famed FC Basel academy before breaking into the first team as a teenager. A technically gifted playmaker with a devastating left foot, Shaqiri's career has been a tour of Europe's elite clubs, including Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and Liverpool. While sometimes a rotational player at these giants, he consistently proved his worth with moments of spectacular brilliance: a stunning overhead kick for Liverpool, a hat-trick at a major tournament for Switzerland. For his national team, he is an undisputed star and leader, one of their all-time top scorers. Shaqiri's journey—from refugee to a key figure for club and country—embodies resilience and the ability to deliver when the spotlight shines brightest.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Xherdan was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Xherdan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Xherdan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the UEFA Champions League in 2019 with Liverpool, coming on as a substitute in the final.
- Scored a hat-trick for Switzerland against Hungary in the group stage of UEFA Euro 2016.
- Has won league titles in Switzerland, Germany, and England with Basel, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool respectively.
Did You Know?
He holds dual citizenship for Switzerland and Kosovo, and has represented Switzerland at the international level.
He is known for wearing size 10 football boots despite his relatively short stature.
He has a tattoo of the Swiss cross on the back of his neck.
“I have always played for the love of the game, to make my family and country proud.”
