Canadian national soccer player Ali Ahmed one of many athletes thriving during Ramadan fast

On Sunday night, at the Nations Cup in Los Angeles, Jonathan David scored a goal in the second half to boost Canada up 2-1 over the USA.

That pass he received to set up the strike was from the 24-year old midfielder Ali Ahmed. Ahmed found David in the box and the goal pushed the team ahead to give Canada a third-place finish in the tournament ahead of the Americans.

Ahmed is not new to passing, scoring or helping the Canadian men's team to perform well at the highest echelons of intense competition. 

What's more compelling is what is missing from Ahmed and his teammate, Ismaël Koné: food and water. Ahmed and Koné are Muslim and are currently observing the month of Ramadan which began February 28 and is expected to end March 30. 

Muslims wake up before the sun rises to eat a meal and offer prayers. They refrain from food and drink (no, not even water) until sunset. But the month is not only about not eating or drinking. It's a month that emphasizes spiritual rejuvenation, intense inflection, patience, giving charity, community connection and most of all, worship. 

I spoke with Ahmed via Zoom after Canada lost to Mexico 2-0 in the semifinal and he explained why he chooses to fast —even during important matches. 

WATCH | Jonathan David scores winner against U.S.:

"Ramadan, obviously, it's a pillar of Islam, but Islam is a big, big foundation of my life," he told me. "I'm used to it too. I've been playing while fasting, and funny enough, in Ramadan, I actually tend to have my best performances. Whether it's in training or in games. So it's honestly never a thought (to) not fast."

Ahmed said his first appearance for his MLS club team, the Vancouver Whitecaps, came in April 2022 while he was fasting. He scored and he assisted during that match and continued to start for the team during Ramadan. His play was so sharp that his teammates began to call him "Ramadan Ali". When the month was over they suggested he keep fasting because his performance had been so good. 

Ahmed recalls there were initially questions and some doubts. "Yo, you sure you can handle this?," he said his teammates asked him. "Like, this is insane. Like, this is nuts! No food? No fluid? No drink? And you're kicking off just when you're allowed to eat? Like, we don't know." But he told them to trust him. And they did. 

The reality is that going without food and water at high-level athletic performance is not easy. It isn't supposed to be easy. That's the point. You're supposed to feel what it's like for others to go without food. 

Yes, professional athletes have resources, like dietary scientists and staff to help them navigate. There is so much research and information available now. And these players are not fasting for the first time. They know their bodies, they know the mental and physical demands of fasting and playing. Ahmed, like many athletes, skips the team meals and must nap on match days. Getting extra sleep helps the body recover and be as rested as possible for high performance. 

For many Muslim athletes, not fasting is not a consideration. Leagues are starting to get on board as well. In England, matches in the FA Cup will have a short pause for players. They've implemented this short break so that the players can take a few minutes, have a date (traditional food with which to break fast) or energy drinks, water and some fruits. Ahmed also likes to eat a small energy bar to sustain him. If there is enough time after warm-up before the match begins, Ahmed will pray in a room in the stadium. These arrangements are all made by the team staff.

"Even yesterday at the stadium, we kicked off at 7:30 p.m. and the sunset was at 7:04 - 7:05 and the staff were trying to prepare a room for me and Koné to pray," he said. "And the food that we've been getting at suhoor (pre-dawn meal) has been amazing. And it's beautiful to see, it's lovely to see the support we have. Them making it easy for us and allowing us to be who we are and practise our faith while being professionals is amazing."