1. Overview
Ismail Matar Ibrahim Khamis Al Mukhaini Al Junaibi (إسماعيل مطرIsmail MatarArabic; born April 7, 1983) is an Emirati former professional footballer who primarily played as an attacking midfielder or forward. Born in Abu Dhabi, Matar is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in UAE football history. His career, spanning over two decades primarily with Al Wahda FC, was marked by numerous club and international successes. He notably led the UAE national team to their first-ever Arabian Gulf Cup title in 2007, where he was recognized as the tournament's Most Valuable Player and top scorer. Earlier in his career, he also received the Golden Ball award at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship despite the UAE reaching only the quarter-finals. His career encompasses significant contributions at both club and national levels, including multiple league and cup titles with Al Wahda and participation in major international tournaments like the 2012 Summer Olympics.
2. Early Life and Background
Ismail Matar was born on April 7, 1983, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. His full name is Ismail Matar Ibrahim Khamis Al Mukhaini Al Junaibi. He belongs to the Al Mukhaini family, whose origins can be traced back to the city of Sur in Oman.
2.1. Birth and Family
Ismail Matar was born on April 7, 1983. He has a close family connection to Ahmed Hadid, a midfielder for the Oman national football team and Al Ittihad, as they are cousins. Matar also has two brothers who were footballers: Ahmed, who is now retired, and Yasser, born in 1987, who played for Al-Jazira starting in 2009. Ismail Matar married the daughter of Adel Khalifa Al Shamsi on July 13, 2007, in Abu Dhabi. The couple has two children, a daughter named Alia, born on December 4, 2008, and a son named Ali, born on November 1, 2010. Tragically, his father passed away on January 2, 2009, while Matar was participating in the 19th Arabian Gulf Cup in Oman. He left the national team to attend his father's funeral in the UAE.
3. Club Career
Ismail Matar spent the vast majority of his professional career at Al Wahda FC, with a brief loan spell at Qatari club Al-Sadd SC. He was instrumental in many of Al Wahda's successes, contributing significantly to their domestic titles and strong performances in Asian competitions.
3.1. Al Wahda (2001-2009)
Ismail Matar established himself as a key player at Al Wahda FC from his early career, making significant contributions to the team's success through his impressive scoring ability and playmaking skills.
3.1.1. Early career and debut (2001-2003)
Ismail Matar began his professional career with Al Wahda FC in the 2001-02 season. His debut game was against Al-Jazira, where he scored his first professional goal, an equalizer in the second half. Although Al-Jazira eventually scored the winning goal, Matar's strong presence continued throughout the season. In the 2002-03 season, he scored 14 goals, a performance that earned him the title of Best Emirati Young Player in the UAE League. He played a pivotal role in leading Al Wahda to clinch both the UAE Pro-League title and the UAE President Cup during this period. Notably, he was the only player that season to score five goals against goalkeeper Muhsin Musabah, including two in each round and a penalty in the cup final.
3.1.2. Rise to prominence (2003-2005)
The 2003-04 season saw Ismail Matar's involvement with various national teams-the senior national team, the UAE Olympic team, and the UAE Under-20 team-which somewhat impacted his club performance, as he distributed his efforts across four teams. Despite this, he scored three goals for Al Wahda, though the club finished sixth in the league. His significant contribution came with the UAE Under-20 team in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship held in the UAE, where the team reached eighth place and Matar was named the best player of the tournament. This performance garnered him numerous offers from European clubs, including the reserve teams of Chelsea and Inter Milan, as well as Asian clubs from Japan and Qatari club Al-Sadd.
In the 2004-05 season, Matar showed excellent form for Al Wahda, scoring 11 goals. This tally included two goals against Al-Nasr, Al Jazira, and Al-Shabab, as well as a crucial winning goal against Al Ain. He was a prominent figure in Al Wahda's squad, helping the club secure the league title and finish as runners-up in the UAE President Cup. Al Wahda boasted the strongest attack that season, with Matar serving as a high-caliber playmaker. His strong, determined, and vigorous performances led to his nomination for Best Emirati Player. He also scored a hat-trick against Sharjah in the quarter-finals of the President's Cup, propelling his team to the semi-finals.
3.1.3. Consistent performance (2005-2009)
During the period from 2005 to 2009, Ismail Matar continued to be a consistent and vital contributor to Al Wahda FC. He maintained his role as a key attacking force, scoring and assisting regularly, which solidified his reputation as one of the most important players for the club. His reliable performances during these seasons consistently placed him among the top contributors in the UAE Pro-League before his temporary departure on loan.
3.2. Loan to Al-Sadd (2009)
On May 6, 2009, Al Wahda FC announced that Ismail Matar had been loaned to Qatari club Al-Sadd until the end of the season to participate in the Emir Cup. Matar expressed that this professional experience at Al-Sadd would benefit him technically and morally. He noted that at 26 years old, a move to Europe would be difficult and expressed hope for a successful short tenure with Al-Sadd.
He made an immediate impact in the Emir Cup quarter-final, coming on as a substitute for Hassan Al Haidos after 22 minutes. At that point, Al Ahli was leading 2-0, and Al-Sadd was playing with ten men after Ibrahim Majid was sent off. Ismail Matar delivered an exceptional performance, scoring Al-Sadd's third goal in extra time and creating their other two goals. He also successfully converted a penalty in the subsequent penalty shootout, which Al-Sadd won 4-2, securing their place in the semi-finals. For his outstanding play, he was named the Man of the Match and was immediately awarded 2.00 K USD by the Qatar Football Association.
3.3. Return to Al Wahda (2009-2024)
After his brief but impactful loan spell, Ismail Matar returned to Al Wahda FC, where he continued his illustrious career for an extended period, leading the team until his retirement.
3.3.1. Continued impact and AFC Champions League (2009-2011)
Upon his return to Al Wahda FC, rumors surfaced on June 11, 2009, about a 50.00 M AED offer from arch-rivals Al Ain, as well as interest from Saudi clubs Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad. However, Al Wahda denied these rumors and extended Matar's contract until 2014, making him the seventh player to sign a five-year extension. Matar confirmed receiving offers but stated his rejection of all of them due to his love for the club that helped him develop.
On September 28, 2009, he assisted Fernando Baiano in Al Wahda's 3-1 victory over Al-Ahli. On October 4, 2009, he scored once and assisted Baiano again in a 5-1 win against Ajman. An injury sustained on October 10, 2009, during a friendly match against Palestine sidelined him for almost five weeks, though he returned on November 24 to play in the final minutes against Baniyas in the UAE President's Cup.
On December 1, 2009, in an El Classico match against Al Ain, he came on as a substitute in the 64th minute, contributing to Al Wahda's 1-0 win. On December 17, 2009, Ismail was named "The Most Popular Arab Player," an award he cherished as a badge of honor from his fans. He scored a key goal in a 1-0 victory against Baniyas on December 20, 2009. He also received an invitation from Al-Ittihad to participate in the retirement ceremony of star Hamzah Idris against Juventus on December 30, 2009.
In the 2010 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off on January 30, 2010, Matar assisted Mahmoud Khamees for the sole goal in a 1-0 win against Al-Karamah. Seven days later, on February 6, 2010, he scored in the 85th minute and provided two assists, one to Fernando Baiano and another to Abdulrahim Jumaa, in a match against Churchill Brothers SC, which secured Al Wahda's qualification for the group stage.
Matar played 13 matches against Saudi clubs in the AFC Champions League, achieving two victories (against Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahly), six draws, and five losses. He scored three goals in these confrontations. Ittihad Jeddah was the most frequent opponent, facing Matar five times starting from the 2010 edition, where Al Wahda lost 2-0 and 4-0. In the subsequent edition, they lost 3-0 and drew 0-0, before Matar secured his first victory against them, scoring in a 4-1 win in the 2019 edition. He played three matches against Al-Ahly Jeddah, winning 2-1 in 2008 and drawing 0-0 in another match. Against Al-Hilal, he played twice in the 2007 edition, drawing the first 0-0 and scoring in the second, which ended 1-1 and allowed Al Wahda to advance. They drew a third time 2-2 in the 2017 edition. Matar also faced Al-Nasr in the round of 16 of the 2019 edition, with one loss and one draw, leading to Al Wahda's exit. He scored his team's only goal in the 2021 quarter-finals, despite their elimination.
On February 19, 2011, Matar scored his first hat-trick of the season in a 5-3 loss against Ittihad Kalba, surpassing Mohamed Salem as Al Wahda's all-time leading scorer in the UAE Pro-League. In 2016, there were rumors of Matar joining Selangor FC in the Malaysian Super League.
3.3.2. Later career and leadership (2011-2024)
In the later part of his career from 2011 until his retirement in 2024, Ismail Matar continued to be a significant presence for Al Wahda FC. He took on a more pronounced leadership role within the team, guiding younger players and contributing with his experience and tactical understanding. Despite occasional injuries, such as a cheekbone fracture in late 2018 requiring surgery, he maintained his commitment and impact on the field. His longevity and continued contributions made him a revered figure at the club, where he finished his playing days as a club legend.
4. International Career
Ismail Matar's international career was marked by significant achievements at both youth and senior levels, showcasing his exceptional talent and leadership on the global and regional stages.
4.1. Youth career and 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
Ismail Matar was a prominent member of the UAE Under-20 squad that participated in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship, which was held in the UAE. He rose to stardom during the tournament, leading his team to the quarter-finals. He scored the only goal for the UAE in the tournament, securing a victory against Australia. Although the UAE was eventually knocked out by Colombia, Matar's individual brilliance was recognized with the prestigious Golden Ball award, making him the first Arab player to win this honor in a FIFA youth championship.
4.2. Senior National Team Debut and 2007 Gulf Cup
Ismail Matar made his debut for the senior national team in 2003. He scored his first international A-match goal on October 30, 2003, in a 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Turkmenistan.
He became widely known for leading the UAE to their first-ever trophy at the 18th Arabian Gulf Cup, hosted in Abu Dhabi in 2007. His goals were crucial throughout the tournament: he scored against Kuwait in the 90+1 minute to secure the UAE's qualification to the semi-finals, and similarly against Saudi Arabia in the 90+1 minute to advance to the final. In the final match, he scored the winning goal against Oman in the 72nd minute, sealing the UAE's historic first Gulf Cup title. Matar was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament after scoring five goals, which also made him the top scorer of the edition. He is only the third player in the tournament's history to win both the best player and top scorer awards, following Iraqi player Hussein Saeed in 1984 and Qatari player Mubarak Mustafa in 1992.
4.3. Later International Career and Major Tournaments
Ismail Matar continued to be a key figure for the national team after the 2007 Gulf Cup, participating in various major international tournaments and qualifiers.
4.3.1. 2012 Summer Olympics and subsequent years
Ismail Matar was selected as one of the three overage players for the 2012 Summer Olympics held in London, United Kingdom. His participation marked a significant milestone, providing experienced leadership to the Olympic squad.
In the years following, Matar continued to be called up for national team duties. In October 2009, he was called up for friendly matches against Palestine and Jordan. However, he sustained an injury in the match against Palestine and was replaced in the 30th minute. Due to this injury, he was not included in the squad for the November 2009 training camp announced by UAE coach Srečko Katanec, but he later returned for a friendly against Kuwait in December 2009. During an Arabian Gulf League match in late 2018, Matar suffered a cheekbone fracture, which required surgery and raised doubts about his participation in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
4.3.2. Retirement and return to national team
Ismail Matar retired from the national team in 2019, having accumulated a record of 133 caps and 36 goals. However, due to the national team's struggles in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, where they recorded three draws and one loss in four matches, coach Bert van Marwijk called Matar back to the squad on November 3, 2021. This marked his return to the national team after an absence of 1008 days, demonstrating his continued importance and leadership for the country. In 2012, he had also achieved the milestone of becoming a Century Club member, marking his 100th international appearance.
5. Career Statistics
Ismail Matar's extensive career is reflected in his appearance and scoring records for both his club and the national team.
5.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Asia | Club World Cup | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Al-Wahda | 2001-02 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | - | 15 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 2002-03 | 19 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 23 | 12 | 10 | |||
| 2003-04 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3 | - | 22 | 4 | 10 | |||
| 2004-05 | 18 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 22 | 14 | 8 | |||
| 2005-06 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | - | 28 | 15 | 18 | |||
| 2006-07 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 0 | - | 33 | 9 | 13 | |||
| 2007-08 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | - | 27 | 5 | 7 | |||
| 2008-09 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | - | 25 | 9 | 11 | |||
| Total | 130 | 57 | 45 | 35 | 13 | 28 | 30 | 3 | 9 | - | 195 | 73 | 82 | |||
| Al-Sadd (loan) | 2009 | - | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Total | - | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| Al-Wahda | 2009-10 | 18 | 5 | - | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 22 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2010-11 | 17 | 6 | - | 8 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2011-12 | 17 | 3 | - | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 5 | - | |
| 2012-13 | 15 | 1 | - | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2013-14 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2014-15 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2015-16 | 23 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2016-17 | 22 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2017-18 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2018-19 | 20 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2019-20 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2020-21 | 23 | 7 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2021-22 | 23 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 5 | 8 | |
| 2022-23 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 5 | |
| 2023-24 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 3 | |
| Total | 238 | 44 | 48 | 76 | 5 | 6 | 40 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 357 | 56 | 54 | |
| Career Totals | 418 | 101 | 93 | 113 | 19 | 35 | 70 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 604 | 130 | 137 | |
5.2. International Statistics
| United Arab Emirates | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 10 | 2 |
| 2004 | 16 | 3 |
| 2005 | 9 | 3 |
| 2006 | 9 | 3 |
| 2007 | 17 | 7 |
| 2008 | 16 | 5 |
| 2009 | 8 | 3 |
| 2010 | 4 | 1 |
| 2011 | 9 | 2 |
| 2012 | 6 | 3 |
| 2013 | 8 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 |
| 2016 | 3 | 2 |
| 2017 | 6 | 0 |
| 2018 | 4 | 0 |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 136 | 36 |
| Ismail Matar: International goals | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 30 October 2003 | Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah | Turkmenistan | 1-1 | 1-1 | 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualifier |
| 2. | 18 November 2003 | Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai | Sri Lanka | 3-1 | 3-1 | 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualifier |
| 3. | 10 July 2004 | Hohhot People's Stadium, Hohhot | China | 2-0 | 2-2 | Friendly |
| 4. | 11 November 2004 | Al-Rashid Stadium, Dubai | Jordan | 2-0 | 4-0 | Friendly |
| 5. | 10 December 2004 | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha | Qatar | 2-0 | 2-2 | 17th Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 6. | 9 February 2005 | Al-Rashid Stadium, Dubai | Switzerland | 1-1 | 1-2 | Friendly |
| 7. | 11 October 2005 | Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium, Al Ain | Oman | 1-0 | 2-2 | Friendly |
| 8. | 16 November 2005 | Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus | Syria | 2-0 | 3-0 | Friendly |
| 9. | 22 February 2006 | Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai | Oman | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualifier |
| 10. | 1 March 2006 | People's Football Stadium, Karachi | Pakistan | 2-1 | 4-1 | 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualifier |
| 11. | 10 December 2006 | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Slovakia | 1-2 | 1-2 | Friendly |
| 12. | 17 January 2007 | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Oman | 1-2 | 1-2 | 17th Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 13. | 23 January 2007 | Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Kuwait | 1-0 | 3-2 | 17th Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 14. | 23 January 2007 | Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Kuwait | 3-2 | 3-2 | 17th Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 15. | 27 January 2007 | Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium Abu Dhabi | Saudi Arabia | 1-0 | 1-0 | 17th Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 16. | 31 January 2007 | Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Oman | 1-0 | 1-0 | 17th Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 17. | 21 June 2007 | MPPJ Stadium, Petaling Jaya | Malaysia | 2-0 | 3-1 | Friendly |
| 18. | 28 October 2007 | Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Vietnam | 1-0 | 5-0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 19. | 26 March 2008 | Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus | Syria | 1-1 | 1-1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 20. | 14 June 2008 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City | Kuwait | 1-0 | 3-2 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 21. | 14 June 2008 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City | Kuwait | 2-0 | 3-2 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 22. | 22 June 2008 | Al-Qatara Stadium, Al Ain | Syria | 1-2 | 1-3 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 23. | 29 August 2008 | Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Bahrain | 1-1 | 2-3 | Friendly |
| 24. | 21 January 2009 | KLFA Stadium, Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 1-0 | 5-0 | 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier |
| 25. | 21 January 2009 | KLFA Stadium, Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 2-0 | 5-0 | 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier |
| 26. | 1 April 2009 | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh | Saudi Arabia | 2-1 | 2-3 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 27. | 7 September 2010 | Al-Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Kuwait | 2-0 | 3-0 | Friendly |
| 28. | 11 October 2011 | Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon | South Korea | 1-2 | 1-2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 29. | 15 November 2011 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City | Kuwait | 1-0 | 1-2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 30. | 29 January 2012 | Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai | Uzbekistan | 1-0 | 1-0 | Friendly |
| 31. | 29 February 2012 | Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Lebanon | 3-2 | 4-2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 32. | 12 October 2012 | Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai | Uzbekistan | 1-0 | 2-2 | Friendly |
| 33. | 9 November 2013 | Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Philippines | 3-0 | 4-0 | Friendly |
| 34. | 19 November 2013 | Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Vietnam | 2-0 | 5-0 | 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualifier |
| 35. | 9 November 2016 | Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Bahrain | 1-0 | 2-0 | Friendly |
| 36. | 15 November 2016 | Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Iraq | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
6. Honours and Awards
Ismail Matar has accumulated an impressive array of team and individual accolades throughout his distinguished career, reflecting his significant impact on both club and international football.
6.1. Club Honours
Al Wahda
- UAE Football League: 2000-01, 2004-05, 2009-10
- Super Cup: 2002, 2011, 2017, 2018
- Al-Etihad "Union" Cup: 2001
- UAE League Cup: 2015-16, 2017-18
- UAE President Cup: 2016-17
- AFC Champions League: Semi-finals (2007)
6.2. International Honours
United Arab Emirates
- Arabian Gulf Cup: 2007, 2013
6.3. Individual Awards
- FIFA U-20 World Cup Player of the Tournament: 2003 (Golden Ball)
- Al Hadath Most Promising Arab Player of the Year: 2004
- Pro-League Player of the Year: 2005-06
- Arabian Gulf Cup Player of the Tournament: 2007 (MVP)
- Arabian Gulf Cup Top Scorer: 2007 (5 goals)
- Al Ittihad Pro-League Player of the Year: 2007
- Al-Ahram Silver Team of the Year: 2007
- Al-Ahram Golden Team of the Year: 2009
- Runner-up Asian Footballer of the Year: 2008
7. Personal Life
Ismail Matar's full given name is Ismail Matar Ibrahim Khamis Al Mukhaini Al Junaibi. He was born on April 7, 1983, in Abu Dhabi. His family, the Al Mukhaini, trace their origins to Sur in Oman. He is a cousin of Ahmed Hadid, a former midfielder for the Oman national football team and Al Ittihad. Ismail also has two brothers who pursued football careers: Ahmed, who has since retired, and Yasser, born in 1987, who began playing for Al-Jazira in 2009.
On July 13, 2007, Matar married the daughter of Adel Khalifa Al Shamsi in Abu Dhabi. The couple has two children: a daughter named Alia, born on December 4, 2008, and a son named Ali, born on November 1, 2010. A personal tragedy struck on January 2, 2009, when his father passed away while Matar was with the national team at the 19th Arabian Gulf Cup in Oman. He promptly left the tournament to return to the UAE for his father's funeral.
8. Legacy and Recognition
Ismail Matar's impact on UAE football is profound, earning him widespread acclaim and establishing him as one of the country's most iconic footballers. His career has left an indelible mark on the sport's history within the United Arab Emirates.
8.1. Overall reception and influence
Ismail Matar is widely regarded by the UAE football community and fans as a true legend and one of the greatest players in the nation's history. His exceptional talent, leadership, and dedication have made him a revered figure. He is often seen as an inspiration for younger generations of players, embodying the potential for Emirati footballers to achieve regional and international recognition. His consistent performances and ability to deliver in crucial moments have solidified his place in the hearts of fans across the UAE.
8.2. Major achievements and impact
Ismail Matar's major achievements and their positive impact on the development of football in the United Arab Emirates are extensive. His receipt of the Golden Ball at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship was a historic moment, as he became the first Arab player to win such an award, putting UAE football on the global map at a youth level. His most significant contribution was leading the UAE national team to their first-ever Arabian Gulf Cup victory in 2007, an achievement that brought immense national pride and significantly boosted the sport's popularity in the country. He was not only instrumental in this triumph but also recognized as the tournament's MVP and top scorer, highlighting his individual brilliance within a successful team effort. Throughout his long career with Al Wahda FC, he was a pivotal figure in securing multiple league and cup titles. His consistent goal-scoring and playmaking abilities made Al Wahda a dominant force in domestic competitions. His longevity and leadership provided stability and continuity, helping to raise the professional standards of the league. Matar's return to the national team in 2021, after initially retiring, further underscored his enduring importance and the trust placed in him by the footballing establishment during critical qualification campaigns. These accomplishments, both individual and team-based, have elevated the profile of UAE football and inspired countless aspiring players.