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At Caen, Alexandre Mendy is Ligue 2’s top scorer with 16 goals. Behind him, the Normandy club can count on Ali Abdi. The Tunisian left-back is shining brightly, and is even top of the list of defenders with the most goals in Europe. Quite a performance.
Europe’s most prolific defender doesn’t play for Real Madrid or Manchester City, but for Stade Malherbe de Caen. His name is Ali Abdi. He is tied with Bayer Leverkusen’s Alex Grimaldo and Huddersfield Town’s Michal Helik in the Championship. The Tunisian left-back (24 caps, 2 goals) has already scored 8 league goals for the Normandy club. His last two goals came on Monday February 26, when he scored twice to give his side a 2-0 win over Angers. In Europe, nobody does better in the five major leagues, first and second divisions combined.
However, these XXL attacking performances are nothing new for Ali Abdi. Since making his Ligue 2 debut on August 16, 2019, the 30-year-old has scored 22 goals in 132 games.No defensive player has scored as many as he has during this period. His record for goals in a single season dates back to the 2021-2022 season, when he scored 9 goals with Paris FC. There’s no doubt he could break that record with 12 league games still to go. What’s more, of the 8 goals he has scored this season, 5 have been headed in. Only Malik Tchokounté has done better, with 6 headers.
Joffrey Cuffaut in the spotlightWith 8 headed goals since his Ligue 2 debut, Ali Abdi leads all defenders in this category. His nearest rival is Jubal of AJ Auxerre.Finally, the Tunisian can become the most prolific defender in the history of the French second division over a single season. The record is held by Joffrey Cuffaut with Valenciennes in 2020-2021.He scored 10 goals.
A radiant Ali Abdi can hope to join the fight for Ligue 1 status. Caen are currently 6th with 39 points, just one behind 5th-placed Grenoble, who occupy the final play-off spot.
