Club career
Al Wahda
2002–03
The first game was in the season against Al-Jazira Club, Al-Jazira, which he also scored his first in the match. This goal was the equalizer for Al-Wahda FC (Abu Dhabi), Al-Wahda in the second half, but the joy did not last, Al-Jazira made the second goal and the winning goal latter. Matar continued his brilliant presence in that season and scored 14 goals, as he was named the Best Emarati Young Player in the UAE League and led Al-Wahda FC (Abu Dhabi), Al-Wahda to the UAE Pro-League and the UAE President Cup, President's Cup titles. He was the only player in that season that has been scored in the Goal of Muhsin Musabah five goals including two goals in the first round and two in the second round and a goal in the cup final from Penalty shootout (association football), penalty shot out.2003–04
The Golden Boy did not shine strongly because of his involvement with the United Arab Emirates national football team, national team and the United Arab Emirates national under-23 football team, UAE Olympic and United Arab Emirates national under-20 football team, UAE Under-20, and he is the only United Arab Emirates, Emirati player who participated in four games with the Al-Wahda FC (Abu Dhabi), Al-Wahda and the United Arab Emirates national football team, national team and United Arab Emirates national under-20 football team, UAE Under-20 and United Arab Emirates national under-23 football team, UAE Olympic and distributed his effort in the four teams, which could not shine with Al-Wahda FC (Abu Dhabi), Al-Wahda and he scored three goals with Al-Wahda FC (Abu Dhabi), Al-Wahda, the club was ranked sixth in the league, and began the fatigue and exhaustion on Ismail making the press pounce on the United Arab Emirates Football Association to merciless the player from involved with the four national teams. But his effort did not go waste with the United Arab Emirates national under-20 football team, UAE Under-20, who was playing in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship, FIFA World Youth Championship 2003 in the UAE, but he achieved with the United Arab Emirates national under-20 football team, UAE Under-20 eighth place, and was the best player in the tournament, which was nominated for the best player and has achieved what he wanted. And has many offers from European clubs including the Chelsea F.C., Chelsea reserve and F.C. Internazionale Milano, Inter Milan and Asian Clubs including Japan clubs and Qatari Club Al-Sadd Sports Club, Al-Sadd.2004–05
Ismail was shown a good form for Al-Wahda FC (Abu Dhabi), Al-Wahda at 2004–05 UAE Football League, 2004–05 season and scored 11 goals including doubles against Al Nasr SC (Dubai), Al-Nasr, Al-Jazira Club, Al Jazira and Al-Shabab (United Arab Emirates), Al-Shabab and a winning goal against Al Ain FC, Al Ain. He was most prominent in the ranks of Al-Wahda FC (Abu Dhabi), Al-Wahda players, help the club to win the UAE Football League, league title and finished as runners-up in the UAE President Cup, Domestic Cup. Al-Wahda FC (Abu Dhabi), Al-Wahda had the strongest line of attack in that season, and Matar was playmaker of heavy caliber, which he was nominated for the Best Emarati Player. Ismail was more vigor and vitality and strength and fitness and determination to win and was serious player at the same time at the season. In match against Sharjah FC, Sharjah in the quarter-finals of the UAE President Cup, President's Cup, he scored hat-trick with the club and ascended to the semi-final.Al-Sadd Club (loan)
On 6 May 2009, Al-Wahda FC (Abu Dhabi), Al-Wahda announced that Ismail had been moved to Qatari club Al-Sadd Sports Club, Al-Sadd on loan until the end of the season to participate with the club in the Emir of Qatar Cup, Emir Cup. Commenting on his move, Matar said:"The professional experience in Al-Sadd Sports Club, Al-Sadd club will be useful to me on both, a technical and moral level. I am now 26-years old and it is difficult for professionalism in Europe, and I hope to be lucky with Al-Sadd Sports Club, Al-Sadd in my short tenure."Ismail took part in the Emir of Qatar Cup, Emir Cup quarter-final, coming on as a substitute for Hassan Al Haidos after 22 minutes. At the time of coming on, Al-Ahli (Doha), Al Ahli were leading two goals to none, and Al Sadd were a player down after Ibrahim Majid got sent off after 13 minutes. Ismail played a great match, scoring Al-Sadd's third goal in extra time, as well as creating the other two goals. He scored a penalty in the Penalty shootout (association football), penalty shootout, which Al Sadd won 4–2 to ensure a place in the semi-finals. He was named the Man of the Match, in addition to being immediately awarded two thousand dollars by the Qatar Football Association.
Return to Al Wahda
2009–10
On 11 June 2009, rumors spread that Al-Wahda has received an offer of amount 50 million United Arab Emirates dirham, dirham from the arch-rivals Al Ain FC, Al Ain, and offers from other Arabic clubs specifically from Saudi clubs Al-Hilal FC, Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad (Jeddah), Al-Ittihad for Ismail, but Al-Wahda denied the rumors and extended Ismail's contract until 2014. To be the seventh player to extend his contract for five years, in an interview with club's website, Ismail has said that he had received offers from Saudi clubs and has offers from other clubs too but he rejected all because he loves the club that help him to improve. On 28 September 2009, during Al-Wahda FC (Abu Dhabi), Al-Wahda's 3–1 win against Al-Ahli Football Club - Dubai, Al-Ahli, Ismail assisted Fernando Baiano. On 4 October 2009, Al-Wahda FC (Abu Dhabi), Al-Wahda defeated Ajman Club, Ajman 5–1 which Ismail scored one goal and assisted Fernando Baiano again. On 10 October 2009, Ismail injured in UAE's friendly match against Palestine national football team, Palestine, and was out for almost five weeks. On 24 November 2009, Ismail returned from injury and play against Bani Yas Club, Baniyas in the UAE President's Cup and played in the last minutes. On 1 December 2009, in week 7 of the season in match against Al Ain FC, Al Ain which known as UAE's El classico, he replaced Fahad Masoud in the 64th minutes., he had a chance in the last minutes but he did not succeed in the elusive and Waleed Salim which beyond ball. The match was ended 1–0 in favor of Al-Wahda. On 17 December 2009, Ismail named as The Most Popular Arab Player, commented Ismail, when received the award "This award is dear to his heart of pride and honor him, because the love of the fans and a badge on his chest and thanked everyone who voted him". On 20 December 2009, he played a key role in the match against Baniyas SC, Baniyas after scoring in 32 minutes, and was substituted on 79th minutes. The match ended 1–0 for Al-Wahda FC (Abu Dhabi), Al-Wahda. Ismail had received invasion from Al-Ittihad (Jeddah), Al-Ittihad to participate in the ceremony to retire star Hamzah Idris against Juventus F.C., Juventus on 30 December 2009.AFC Champions League
On 30 January 2010 during 2010 AFC Champions League, AFC Champions League 2010 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off, qualifying play-off, he played against Al-Karamah SC, Al-Karamah. He assisted Mahmoud Khamees to score the only goal in the match in the 72nd minute. Seven days later, on 6 February 2010, he scored against Churchill Brothers SC in the 85th minute and assisted twice, one for Fernando Baiano in the 45th minute and again to Abdulrahim Jumaa in the 63rd minute. The win helped Al Wahda qualify for the group stage of the tournament. He played 13 matches against Saudi clubs in the Asian Champions League, during which he won twice over Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahly, and drew 6 times, compared to losing on 5 occasions, while scoring 3 goals during those confrontations. Ittihad Jeddah is considered the most team that Ismail Matar faced in the AFC Champions League with 5 matches starting from the 2010 version, as it lost 2-0 to it, 4-0 in that version, and in the subsequent version it lost 3-0 and tied it 0-0, before He achieved his first victory in the 2019 edition 4-1, when Ismail scored a goal in that match. Matar played 3 matches against Al-Ahly Jeddah, winning 2-1 in the 2008 edition and drawing 0-0 in the other match, without shaking the net. While he played against Al-Hilal twice in the 2007 edition, he tied in the first without goals and scored a goal in the second, which ended 1-1 and qualified Al-Wahda advanced to the next round, and tied a third 2-2 in a match that brought them together in the 2017 edition. Ismail played against Al-Nasr in the final price of the 2019 edition, losing in one and drawing in the other, to bid his team farewell to the championship from that round and the 2021 quarter-finals, and scored his team's only goal despite the exclusion.2010–11
On 19 February 2011, Matar scored his first hat-trick of the season in a 5–3 loss against Kalba Club, Ittihad Kalba, he overtook Mohamed Salem as Al Wahda's all-time greatest scorer in the UAE Pro-League, Pro-League. In 2016, Matar has been rumoured to join Selangor FC in Malaysian Super league.International career
2003 World Youth Championships
Ismail was part of UAE's squad for 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship which held in home country. He began his stardom to reach to the quarter-finals when he scored the only goal in the tournament against Australia national association football team, Australia. However, UAE knocked out from tournament in match against Colombia national football team, Colombia. He won the Golden Ball award and became the first Arab player to wins this award.2007 Gulf Cup
Known Ismail when he leading United Arab Emirates national football team to their first ever trophy at the 18th Arabian Gulf Cup, and his goals was critical in the tournament. When he scored against Kuwait national football team, Kuwait in the 90+1 minute, United Arab Emirates national football team, UAE qualify to semi-final and against Saudi Arabia national football team, Saudi Arabia in the 90+1 minute, United Arab Emirates national football team, UAE qualify to final. In the final match, he scored a goal against Oman national football team, Oman in the 72nd minute to lead United Arab Emirates national football team, UAE to win their first title in the Arabian Gulf Cup, Gulf Cup, Matar was named as MVP player of the tournament after scoring five goals in the tournament that makes him top scorer of the edition. He is the third player to win both titles on the best player and top scorer in the tournament after Iraqi player Hussein Saeed in 1984 Gulf Cup of Nations, 1984 and Qatari Mubarak Mustafa in 1992 Gulf Cup of Nations, 1992.2012 Olympic
Matar was named as one of the three List of overage players in Olympic football, overage players to participate in the Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics, 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom.Recent
Ismail called up for two Friendly match, friendly matches against Palestine national football team, Palestine on 10 October 2009 and Jordan national football team, Jordan on 14 October. He was injured in match against Palestine national football team, Palestine and was replaced in 30th minute. On 5 November 2009, UAE coach Srečko Katanec announced the squad for the next training camp in November 2009, but Ismail was not called up because of injury. He was returned to the squad for the friendly match against Kuwait national football team, Kuwait on 16 December 2009. Matar faced cheekbone fracture during Arabian Gulf League in late 2018 and had to go through surgery.Career statistics
Club
International
Honours
Club
;Al Wahda *UAE Football League: 3 :: 2000–01 UAE Football League, 2000–01, 2004–05 UAE Football League, 2004–05, 2009–10 UAE Premier League, 2009–10 *UAE Super Cup, Super Cup: 2 :: UAE Super Cup, 2002, UAE Super Cup, 2011 *Al Etihad "Union" Cup: 1 :: 2001 * Uae League Cup 2017-2018 * Uae president cup 2016-2017 * Uae super cup 2018-2019UAE
*Arabian Gulf Cup: 2 :: 2007 Gulf Cup of Nations, 2007, 2013 Gulf Cup of Nations, 2013Individual
*FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA U-20 World Cup Player of the Tournament: 1 :: 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship#Awards, 2003 *Al Hadath Most promising Arab player of the Year: 1 :: 2004 *UAE League, Pro-League Player of the Year: 1 :: 2006 *Gulf Cup of Nations, Arabian Gulf Cup Player of the Tournament: 1 :: 2007 Gulf Cup of Nations, 2007 *Gulf Cup of Nations, Arabian Gulf Cup top scorer: 1 :: 2007 Gulf Cup of Nations, 2007 *Al-Ittihad (Emirati newspaper), Al Ittihad Pro-League player of the Year: 1 :: Al-Ittihad (Emirati newspaper), 2007 *Al-Ahram, Al-Ahram Silver Team of the Year: 1 :: Al-Ahram, 2007 *Al-Ahram, Al-Ahram Golden Team of the Year: 1 :: Al-Ahram, 2009Personal life
Ismail Matar belongs to the Al Mukhaini family where his origins can be traced from the Sur, Oman, Sur city in Oman, he has a close relationship with the midfielder of Oman national football team and Al-Ittihad (Jeddah), Al Ittihad player Ahmed Hadid as they are cousins. Ismail has two footballer brothers. They are Ahmed (retired) and Yasser (born in 1987, playing for Al-Jazira Club, Al-Jazira since 2009). Matar is married to the daughter of Adel Khalifa Al Shamsi, they married in Abu Dhabi on 13 July 2007, the couple have two children, Alia (born 4 December 2008) and Ali (born 1 November 2010). His father died on 2 January 2009 and Matar was in the 19th Arabian Gulf Cup in Oman, he did not participate with the national team and instead left to the UAE to attend the funeral of his father.See also
* List of men's footballers with 100 or more international capsNotes
References
External links
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