The Albania national football team has represented Albania in international association football since 1946. The Albanian Football Association (Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit; FSHF) was founded in 1930 and became a member of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) two years later. However, the team did not play its first official international match until 7 October 1946, suffering a 2–3 defeat to Yugoslavia in the 1946 Balkan Cup. In 1954, Albania was one of the founding members of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and continues to compete as a member of the organisation, which encompasses the countries of Europe and Israel. As of March 2026, Albania have played 400 international fixtures, winning 110, drawing 84 and losing 206. They have played more fixtures against Romania than any other national side, losing 13 of the 19 matches between the sides. In global and continental competitions, the team has competed in qualification groups for both the FIFA World Cup, since 1966, and the UEFA European Championship, since 1964. The team has qualified for one international tournament during its history, UEFA Euro 2016, where they were eliminated in the group stage. In minor competitions, the team won the 1946 Balkan Cup and the 2000 Malta International Football Tournament.

As of June 2026, Albania's most capped player is Elseid Hysaj, who has made 100 appearances for the senior team during his career. He made his international debut in February 2013 in a 1–2 defeat against Georgia and won his record-breaking 94th cap in October 2025 in a 4–2 victory over Jordan in a friendly match. The nation's leading goalscorer is Erjon Bogdani, who scored 18 times during his international career between 1996 and 2013. Bogdani overtook the previous record holder, Alban Bushi, in September 2011 after scoring in three consecutive international fixtures. Bushi had claimed the record from Altin Rraklli in 2004.

The first player to reach 25 caps for Albania was Panajot Pano, who reached the total in April 1973 in a match against East Germany. Pano was later named as his country's "golden player" by the FSHF during the UEFA Jubilee Awards in 2004 as Albania's "single most outstanding player". Foto Strakosha is the most capped goalkeeper in the national team's history and held the overall cap record until 2011, when his total was surpassed by Altin Lala. The record was later surpassed by Lorik Cana in June 2014, before eventually being overtaken by Hysaj.

Players Appearances and goals are composed of FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship and each competition's required qualification matches, as well as UEFA Nations League matches and numerous international friendly tournaments and matches. Players are listed by number of caps. If the number of caps is equal, the players are then listed by time of debut. Statistics updated following match played on 6 June 2026.

Note: Albania played a friendly match against Kosovo on 13 November 2015, before Kosovo became a member of FIFA or UEFA and is not recognised as an official match by either organisation but is recognised by the FSHF. As such, the match is included from the totals in the table below and the '#1' symbol indicates which players appeared in the match.

Key *Still active for the national team =Player is tied for the number of capsGKGoalkeeperDFDefenderMFMidfielderFWForward

+ Albania national team footballers of all timesNamePositionNational team careerCapsGoalsHonours *DF2013–2026100#12 DF2003–201693#11 *GK2012–202481#10 MF1998–2011793 MF2001–2011776 MF2000–20117513 2000 Rothmans= FW1996–20137518 GK1990–2005730= DF2005–2017733= *DF2015–202673#11 MF2011–202271#15 DF2007–201870#10 FW1997–20076810 FW1995–20076714= MF1995–2009673 DF2005–2013641 FW1992–20056311 FW2014–202460#113 DF1990–2001595 2000 Rothmans MF2002–2014561 MF2013–2024511 FW2006–20155011= DF2012–2019503= *MF2018–2026501 DF1989–2003480= FW2012–2022489= *MF2018–2026486= *MF2020–2026484 DF2002–2009470= MF2007–2018472= *MF2018–2026473= *GK2017–2026470 MF1983–1995451= MF2013–202245#15= *DF2015–202345#10= *FW2015–202545#111= *MF2021–2026458 DF2006–2014441= MF2010–2021441 MF1998–2006434 2000 Rothmans= MF2000–2007432= GK1998–2011430 2000 Rothmans *MF2022–2026424 FW2004–2014416= *DF2014–202641#11 DF1993–1999401 MF1990–2001396= MF1998–2007391 2000 Rothmans= *FW2012–202339#112 *MF2020–2026376 MF1984–1995362 DF2007–2012350 DF1995–2005340 2000 Rothmans= MF2013–201934#13 *DF2021–2026330 FW1987–19963110= DF1995–2007310= MF2014–201931#11 MF1987–1996300= MF1994–2003301 MF2002–2006298= *MF2018–2024292= MF2019–2024291 FW1963–1973284= FW1980–1989282 MF1984–1992271= MF2007–2013271= MF2009–2014273= MF2012–2017270= *MF2019–2026273 *MF2019–2025260= *FW2023–2026266 FW1992–2002251= DF1995–2002251= FW2002–2006253= MF2013–2019252= *FW2024–2026251 FW1946–19572461946 Balkan Cup= *DF2017–2026240 GK1981–1993230= MF2008–2013231 DF1980–1985223= FW1980–1994221 DF1970–1981210= MF1984–1990210= *MF2018–2025210 DF1946–19522001946 Balkan Cup= DF1946–19532001946 Balkan Cup= FW1965–1973201= MF1988–1996200= KOSGK2009–2013200 MF1946–19501901946 Balkan Cup= MF1985–1997192= MF1995–2006190 2000 Rothmans= MF2008–2013190= DF2006–2013190= MF2011–2018190= *MF2015–202519#10 MF1946–19521811946 Balkan Cup= MF1991–1997181= GK1989–2002180 2000 Rothmans MF1946–19501711946 Balkan Cup= FW1996–2002170= KOSFW2006–2009171= GK2005–2011170= MF2013–2016171= *FW2021–2026173= *MF2023–2026171 MF1982–1987162= FW1993–2000161 2000 Rothmans= FW2012–2016164 MF1963–1970150= MF1967–1976151= FW1971–1981155= MF1976–1985151= DF1985–1990150= DF1994–1996150= MF2013–2015153= *MF2019–2021151 DF1947–1957140= MF1963–1967140= MF1980–1985140= MF1982–1987143= MF2002–2006140= GK2002–2006140 DF1946–1950130= FW1946–19521361946 Balkan Cup= MF1996–1999131= MF1996–2002130= MF2017–2019131= MF2018–2021131 FW1948–1952123= DF1957–1965120= DF1963–1970120= DF1971–1973121= FW1993–2000120 2000 Rothmans= DF2002–2006120= DF2005–2013120 GK1947–1953110= DF1946–19581101946 Balkan Cup= DF1963–1965110= FW1965–1971113= MF1971–1976110= MF1980–1984110= DF1986–1993110= DF1984–1993110= FW1992–1993110= MF2003–2005111= *MF2020–2022111= *MF2025–2026110 DF1982–1985100= DF1987–1989100= FW1988–1995101= MF1991–1995100= MF1990–1997100= DF1994–1998100= MF2006–2011100 FW1946–1950941946 Balkan Cup= GK1964–196790= DF1967–197190= DF1970–197290= FW1973–198391= MF1986–199290= MF1987–199691= MF1995–199890 GK1946–1948801946 Balkan Cup= FW1949–195881= DF1963–197180= MF1964–197180= GK1967–197380= DF1971–197680= FW1976–198180= DF1982–198380= MF1982–198380= MF1995–199880= FW2010–201380= GK2010–20168#10= *MF2025–202680 MF1963–196570= FW1963–196571= GK1971–197370= DF1976–198171= DF1980–198170= DF1980–199270= FW1988–199371= MF1993–199670= MF1995–199770= DF2011–201370= KOSMF2012–201572= *DF2020–202170= *MF2020–202270 MF1946–1948601946 Balkan Cup= DF1949–195060= FW1952–196361= DF1970–197261= GK1976–198160= FW1976–198260= DF1982–198560= GK1988–198960= FW1987–198960= MF1993–199660= DF1991–199760= FW1995–200361 2000 Rothmans= MF2000–200560 2000 Rothmans= MF2006–201060= MF2011–201461= KOSMF2014–20166#10= *MF2016–201760= *MF2018–201961= *MF2017–202160= *MF2018–202260= *MF2022–202460= *MF2021–202560 MF1947–195050= GK1950–196350= FW1963–196550= MF1963–196750= DF1970–197150= FW1981–198250= FW1980–198350= MF1980–198550= MF1987–199250= MF1990–199250= GK1993–199650= DF1991–199750= MF1999–200050= DF1998–200351= DF1999–200350 2000 Rothmans= DF2002–200550= *MF201750= *DF201850= *MF202350= *FW2024–202550= *MF2023–202650 MF194740= FW1950–195340= FW1963–196540= GK1967–197340= DF1967–197340= MF1972–197640= DF1983–198440= DF1987–199040= GK1987–199040= DF1990–199140= MF1990–199140= FW1991–199540= FW1996–199740= DF1995–199840= GK1998–200040 2000 Rothmans= FW1995–200041 2000 Rothmans= MF1998–200040 2000 Rothmans= FW2000–200241 2000 Rothmans= MF201240= DF2011–201340= *MF2017–201840= *GK2015–202040= *MF2019–202040= *MF2020–202240= *GK2021–202240= *DF202241= *MF2024–202540= *DF2022–202640 GK1946301946 Balkan Cup= GK1947–195030= FW1949–195030= MF1950–195230= DF1952–195330= FW1953–195830= FW1957–196332= FW1964–196531= FW1964–196730= FW1965–196730= MF196730= MF1972–197330= FW197330= MF197330= FW1973–197630= DF198130= MF1986–198730= DF1989–199030= FW1989–199030= FW1989–199030= DF1989–199030= DF199030= MF199230= GK199230= DF1992–199530= MF1992–199531= FW1990–199630= DF1995–199630= MF1995–199730= MF199830= DF200230= MF200230= MF2006–200730= DF200730= FW201330= MF201830= *MF2014–201930= SUIDF202231= *DF202230= *GK2022–202530= *GK2022–202530= *GK2022–202630= *FW2025–202630 MF194720= FW195020= FW1957–195821= MF1957–195820= DF1957–195820= GK1957–196320= FW1965–196720= DF196720= FW197120= DF1971–197220= MF197320= FW198120= DF1980–198220= GK1981–198220= MF198320= MF1984–198520= GK198720= DF199020= GK199020= MF199120= MF199320= FW1992–199420= MF1994–199520= FW199520= FW1995–199620= MF199621= MF1992–199720= DF1996–199720= MF200020 2000 Rothmans= MF200020 2000 Rothmans= DF200020 2000 Rothmans= DF200020 2000 Rothmans= MF1999–200120= FW200220 2000 Rothmans= MF200220= DF200220= MF2002–200320= FW2002–200320= GK200320= DF200420= MF200620= MF200920= MF2010–201220= MF201320= KOSMF201420= KOSDF2014–20152#11= KOSMF201620= *FW201720= *DF201820= *FW201820= *DF201820= *FW2018–202220= *DF2020–202220= *DF202220= *DF202220= *FW202220= *DF202220= *DF202220= *MF202220= *FW202220= *DF202620= *DF202620 FW1946121946 Balkan Cup= MF1946111946 Balkan Cup= DF1946101946 Balkan Cup= MF1946101946 Balkan Cup= DF1946101946 Balkan Cup= MF194710= DF195210= MF195210= DF195310= GK195710= FW195710= MF195710= MF195710= MF195810= MF195810= DF196310= MF196310= FW196310= FW196410= FW196510= FW196710= DF196710= FW197110= MF197310= FW197310= GK197310= DF197610= MF197610= FW198110= FW198110= FW198110= MF198310= FW198310= FD198311= MF198310= MF198510= DF198710= MF198810= MF198810= GK198910= MF198910= DF199010= MF199010= DF199110= DF199110= MF199210= MF199210= MF199210= MF199310= MF199410= MF199410= MF199410= DF199510= MF199510= MF199510= DF199610= DF199610= DF199610= FW199810= DF199810= FW199810= MF200110= GK200210= MF200210= DF200210= FW200210= DF200310= FW200710= FW200810= FW200910= GK201010= DF201010= MF201010= MF201110= DF201110= SUI-21MF201210= MF201310= MF201410= DF201510= *DF201710= MF201710= *DF202010= *DF202210= *DF202210= *MF202210= *MF202210= *MF202210= *FW202210= *MF202210= *MF202210= *MF202310= *MF202410= *DF202510= *GK202510= *DF202510= *MF202510= *MF202610 KOS = Withdrew to play for Kosovo. SUI = Withdrew to play for Switzerland. SUI-21 = Withdrew to play for Switzerland U21.

Notes

See also List of Albania international footballers (1–24 caps) List of Albania international footballers born outside Albania

References

External links Albania national football team at National-Football-Teams.com FSHF.org