# Jamal Charles (footballer)

Jamal Ray Charles (born 24 November 1995) is a Grenadian footballer who plays as a midfielder for C.D. Real Sociedad and the Grenada national football team.

## Early life

Jamal Ray Charles is the son of Janice Charles and Raphael "Ray" Charles, a former footballer. As a child he attended the Belair Government School in St. Andrew's, which he represented at Primary School level competitions. At the age of 12 he entered the St. Andrew's Anglican Secondary School and was selected by coach Michael "Niko" Felix to represent the school. He played during his entire six years at that institution.

## Career
### Club

In July 2019 Charles signed with Liga Nacional club Real España. In December 2020 he was loaned to fellow Liga side Real Sociedad.
In May 2021 Charles returned to Grenada and joined local side Paradise.

### International

Charles represented Grenada at U20 level, during 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship qualifying and scored 2 goals against Dominica.
Charles was first selected to represent Grenada during the 2015 Windward Islands Tournament in Saint Lucia. He made an immediate impact, scoring a brace against hosts St Lucia. Charles would score another important goal for Grenada during second round qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup when he scored the winning aggregate goal against Puerto Rico in a 2–0 win to send them through to the Third round.

### International goals

    As of match played 24 March 2023. Grenada score listed first, score column indicates score after each Charles goal.
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition :
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 16 May 2015 | Philip Marcellin Grounds, Vieux-Fort, Saint Lucia | 2 | Saint Lucia | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 16 May 2015 | Philip Marcellin Grounds, Vieux-Fort, Saint Lucia | 2 | Saint Lucia | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 16 June 2015 | Grenada National Stadium, St. George's, Grenada | 3 | Puerto Rico | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 19 March 2016 | Grenada National Stadium, St. George's, Grenada | 6 | Trinidad and Tobago | 1–1 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 5 | 22 March 2016 | Grenada National Stadium, St. George's, Grenada | 7 | Sint Maarten | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2017 Caribbean Cup qualification |
| 6 | 7 June 2016 | Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda | 9 | Antigua and Barbuda | 1–2 | 1–5 | 2017 Caribbean Cup qualification |
| 7 | 16 November 2018 | Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada | 15 | Saint Martin | 1–0 | 5–2 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification |
| 8 | 16 November 2018 | Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada | 15 | Saint Martin | 2–0 | 5–2 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification |
| 9 | 5 September 2019 | Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada | 17 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League B |
| 10 | 7 June 2016 | Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Belmopan, Belize | 18 | Belize | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League B |
| 11 | 13 October 2019 | Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada | 20 | French Guiana | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League B |
| 12 | 17 November 2019 | Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada | 22 | Belize | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League B |
| 13 | 17 November 2019 | Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada | 22 | Belize | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League B |
| 14 | 17 November 2019 | Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada | 22 | Belize | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League B |
| 15 | 7 June 2022 | Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada | 30 | El Salvador | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A |
| 16 | 22 February 2023 | Fond Playing Field, Sauteurs, Grenada | 32 | Barbados | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 17 | 26 February 2023 | Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada | 34 | Barbados | 1–1 | 2–2 | Friendly |