Ismael Saibari just did something no other player at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has managed. The Moroccan attacking midfielder earned consecutive Man of the Match awards in Morocco’s first two group stage games, putting himself firmly in the conversation as the tournament’s breakout star.
From PSV to the world stage in two matches
Saibari’s World Cup started with a bang against Brazil, where he opened the scoring in a match that ended 1-1. Earning the Man of the Match nod against the five-time champions would be enough for most players’ highlight reels.
He wasn’t done. On June 19, Saibari scored against Scotland roughly 71 seconds into the match, the fastest goal by a Moroccan player in World Cup history. Morocco won 1-0, and Saibari collected his second consecutive MOTM award.
That makes him the only player at this tournament to achieve back-to-back Man of the Match honors. He’s reportedly only the second African player to score in his first two World Cup appearances, joining Mohamed Salah in that exclusive club.
