PLAYER SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Duckens Nazon |
| Date of Birth | 7 April 1994 (Age: 32) |
| Place of Birth | France (Paris suburb) |
| Nationality | Haitian |
| Height | 1.81 m |
| Weight | 79 kg |
| Position | Forward / Striker |
| Preferred Foot | — |
| Current Club | Esteghlal FC (Iran) |
| Previous Clubs | Lorient, Saint-Quentin, Laval, Kerala Blasters, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Coventry City, Oldham Athletic, Sint-Truiden, St Mirren, Quevilly-Rouen, CSKA Sofia, Kayserispor |
| International Caps | 82+ |
| International Goals | 44 |
| World Cup Appearances | 2026 |
| Market Value | €850K |
The Frozen Moment
Tehran airport. A plane on the tarmac. Duckens Nazon, Haiti’s all-time leading goalscorer, was strapped into his seat when his phone lit up—a friend in Israel. The war alarm was ringing.
“I said, wow, I’m so lucky because I’m on the plane right now, ready to take off,” Nazon recalled. Ten seconds later, his luck ran out.
“The cabin chief said, ‘Everybody has to get off the plane. The war has started. The sky is closed.’ And now you start survival mode.”
He watched a strike land 100 metres away before eventually finding a route out of Iran and into France, where he needed a visa for the World Cup. The record scorer—born in a Paris suburb, playing for a Tehran club, escaping a war—made it to a World Cup his country hadn’t attended in 52 years.
June 2026. Haiti’s first World Cup since 1974. Nazon made his debut against Scotland in the Group C opener. For the 32-year-old, it was the culmination of a decade-long commitment to his parents’ homeland. “I was very honoured because it’s the first World Cup for Haiti in over 50 years… with the age that I have, it would have been complicated to participate in the next one, so it was a bit ‘now or never’,” he said.
Origins
Duckens Nazon was born on 7 April 1994 in a Paris suburb to Haitian parents. He grew up speaking Creole at home, eating Joumou soup on New Year’s Day, and hearing family stories about a country he first visited as a child. What struck him then, he has said, was not the poverty but the kindness of the people.
His football journey began in France, where he played for the reserve sides of Lorient and Laval before making his breakthrough in French football. He made his senior debut for Haiti in 2014 after representing the country at U20 level in 2013. “It was really a choice of the heart,” he said. “I was called, I came directly and I always played as best I could.”
The Professional Forge
Early Career in France (2012-2016):
Nazon’s professional career began in France with Lorient II (2012-13), where he made 8 appearances and scored 1 goal. He moved to Olympique Saint-Quentin in the CFA2 for the 2013-14 season, scoring 10 goals in 13 appearances. He then joined Laval in Ligue 2, making his mark with 3 goals in 14 league appearances in the 2015-16 season.
Kerala Blasters & Wolverhampton Wanderers (2016-2018):
In 2016, Nazon had a stint in the Indian Super League with Kerala Blasters, making 7 appearances and scoring 2 goals. He then moved to England, joining Wolverhampton Wanderers’ U23 setup. He never made a senior appearance for Wolves but was loaned to Coventry City in League Two (21 appearances, 6 goals) and Oldham Athletic in League One (16 appearances, 6 goals) during the 2017-18 season.
Belgium & Scotland (2018-2021):
Nazon signed with Belgian club Sint-Truiden in 2018. He scored 6 goals in 22 appearances during the 2020-21 season. During his time in Belgium, he had a loan spell at St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership (2018-19), making 10 appearances and scoring 1 goal.
CSKA Sofia (2022-2024):
The most prolific period of Nazon’s career came at CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria. He scored 25 goals in 50 league appearances across two seasons. The 2022-23 season was particularly impressive, with 18 goals in 32 First League appearances.
Kayserispor & Esteghlal (2024-Present):
Nazon moved to Turkish Süper Lig side Kayserispor in February 2024. He made 46 Süper Lig appearances across the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, scoring 11 goals. In August 2025, he joined Iranian club Esteghlal, where he has made 10 appearances and scored 1 goal in the Persian Gulf Pro League.
The Anatomy of His Game
Nazon is a forward defined by his unpredictability, work rate, and “shoot on sight” mentality.
In Possession:
Nazon is a player who shoots whenever he sees the goal. Former St Mirren teammate Ryan Flynn described his style: “Whether it’s training games, if he sees the goal, he shoots on sight. It can be erratic at times, but on that, if you don’t shoot, you don’t score. I think he’s got that mentality that, if he gets a quarter of a chance, he’s letting one go and on the odd occasion it does go in.”
Out of Possession:
Nazon works hard for his team and has been a leader for the Haitian national team. He has attempted to guide younger players, saying: “I try to accompany certain players, to guide them and to give them advice. I help as I can by being a positive leader within the group.”
Psychological Edge:
Nazon’s journey has been defined by resilience. From escaping a war in Tehran to representing his parents’ homeland on the biggest stage, he has shown remarkable determination. He is a natural leader and a symbol of resilience for Haitian football. “I also want to transmit certain values to the younger ones, notably the importance of knowing which country they represent and the respect that this jersey deserves,” he said.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: 2025/26 Season Snapshot
| Competition | Apps | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persian Gulf Pro League | 10 | 427 | 1 | 0 |
| FIFA World Cup 2026 | — | — | — | — |
TABLE B: Career (Top Leagues)
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laval | 2015-2016 | 14 | 3 |
| Kerala Blasters | 2016 | 7 | 2 |
| Coventry City (loan) | 2017-2018 | 21 | 6 |
| Oldham Athletic (loan) | 2017-2018 | 16 | 6 |
| Sint-Truiden | 2018-2021 | 28 | 6 |
| St Mirren (loan) | 2018-2019 | 10 | 1 |
| Quevilly-Rouen | 2021-2022 | 32 | 11 |
| CSKA Sofia | 2022-2024 | 50 | 25 |
| Kayserispor | 2023-2025 | 46 | 11 |
| Esteghlal | 2025-Present | 10 | 1 |
| TOTAL | — | 316+ | 90 |
TABLE C: International Record
| Competition | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Career | 82+ | 44 |
| FIFA World Cup 2026 | — | — |
TABLE D: Career Achievements
| Honour | Details |
|---|---|
| Haiti’s All-Time Leading Goalscorer | 44 goals in 82+ appearances |
| FIFA World Cup Participant | 2026 (Haiti’s first since 1974) |
| Most Prolific Season | CSKA Sofia 2022-23 (18 goals) |
What these figures reveal is a player who has found success at every level of his career, from the French lower leagues to the Turkish Süper Lig and the Persian Gulf Pro League. His 44 goals in 82 appearances for Haiti make him the country’s all-time leading scorer. His career total of 90 goals in 316 appearances reflects consistent output across multiple leagues and countries.
The Present Tense
Duckens Nazon is 32 years old and at the peak of his career. He is a forward for Esteghlal in Iran and Haiti’s all-time leading goalscorer.
The Esteghlal Story:
Nazon joined Esteghlal in August 2025, signing a contract until 2028. He has made 10 appearances in the Persian Gulf Pro League, scoring 1 goal.
The World Cup Campaign:
Nazon was selected in Sébastien Migné’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He made his World Cup debut in Haiti’s opener against Scotland. He spoke of his pride before the tournament: “I feel a lot of pride and joy. Indeed, it’s the first World Cup of my career. I don’t really know what to expect, I have a feeling of curiosity and impatience at the same time.”
International Record:
Nazon has earned more than 82 caps for Haiti and scored 44 goals, making him the country’s all-time leading scorer. He made his debut in 2014 after representing Haiti at U20 level in 2013. He has been a consistent presence in the national team for over a decade.
Beyond the Touchline
Off the pitch, Nazon’s story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and deep connection to his heritage. He chose to represent Haiti—his parents’ homeland—over France, the country of his birth. His mother, in particular, has been a source of pride: “My mother is also very proud of me. It’s the country of birth of both my parents. She has seen me represent Haiti since 2013 and today, that she knows that I am going to play the World Cup is a sort of consecration. She didn’t even believe it.”
His escape from the war in Tehran was a defining moment. “I was already strapped into my seat on the tarmac at Tehran airport when my phone lit up. A friend playing in Israel. The war alarm was ringing.” He eventually found a route out of Iran and into France, where he needed a visa for the World Cup.
In Miami, Nazon addressed the Haitian community before the tournament, standing in front of a large Haitian flag: “We will show that we are united, whatever happens… I want this World Cup to be the beginning of a new Haiti.” Haiti’s qualification was achieved despite the country’s ongoing crisis—armed gangs control most of Port-au-Prince, the national stadium sits unusable, and head coach Sébastien Migné has never set foot in the country. Of the 26 players in the squad, only one plays his football in Haiti.
The Verdict from the Camp
Ryan Flynn, Former St Mirren Teammate:
“He’s a real talisman to be fair for them watching from afar and just following his progress… He’s a player that shoots on sight, that’s for sure.”
Sébastien Migné, Haiti Head Coach:
Migné described Nazon as a “natural leader, a player of character and a symbol of resilience.”
Duckens Nazon:
“Je ressens beaucoup de fierté et de joie… Je n’ai jamais hésité, j’ai été appelé, je suis venu directement et j’ai toujours joué du mieux que je pouvais” (I feel a lot of pride and joy… I never hesitated, I was called, I came directly and I always played as best I could).
“Je veux que ce Mondial soit le début d’un nouveau Haïti” (I want this World Cup to be the beginning of a new Haiti).
Where Next?
Duckens Nazon is 32 years old and under contract with Esteghlal until 2028. He has already achieved his ultimate goal—playing in a World Cup for Haiti—and is the country’s all-time leading scorer. At 32, this may be his only World Cup, and he has embraced it as a legacy moment.
For Haiti, Nazon has been the foundation of the national team for over a decade. His 44 goals in 82 appearances make him the most prolific scorer in Haitian history, and his leadership has been instrumental in inspiring a new generation of players. His legacy extends beyond football—he is a symbol of hope for a country ravaged by crisis.
From the streets of Paris to the World Cup, from a near-death escape from war to representing his parents’ homeland on the biggest stage, Duckens Nazon’s journey is a story of resilience, sacrifice, and extraordinary achievement. The boy who chose Haiti with his heart is now a symbol of hope for a nation—and his legacy will endure long after the final whistle.
