Ismael Saibari’s career has reached a high level in recent days. The attacking midfielder secured qualification for the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup with the Morocco national team on Monday. Just 48 hours later, the athlete was officially presented as Bayern Munich’s new signing, formalizing a contractual bond that extends until 2031 and will receive the number 34 shirt. This sequence of events underlines the meteoric rise of the player, who capitalizes on a good performance in international tournaments to seal a long-term contract with a European giant.
Previously, Saibari defended the colors of PSV, the team that introduced him to the professional scene. His trajectory in the youth categories included spells at youth clubs in Belgium, such as RSCA, KV Mechelen and KRC Genk, in addition to the Dutch club’s own training structure.
During his final season in the Netherlands, Ismael Saibari recorded an impressive 19 goals and ten assists in 37 appearances. For PSV, the player accumulated a successful record, helping the team to lift three Eredivisie titles, two Dutch Cups and three Super Cups.
Despite being born in Spain, the athlete always chose to represent Morocco, his family’s nation of origin. His debut for the African team took place in 2022, initially in the under-23 category, where he won the African Cup of Nations.
Later this year, he celebrated victory in the continental competition with the main team, after the African Football Confederation (CAF) annulled Senegal’s title due to a regulatory infraction.
For the 2026 World Cup, Saibari was present as a starter in all four matches played by Morocco. His contribution in terms of goals was notable, scoring in the draw against Brazil, securing the victory against Scotland and contributing one of the four goals in the 4-2 victory over Haiti.
In the match against the Netherlands, valid for the second phase of the World Cup, the midfielder was decisive in converting one of the penalty kicks that ensured the Moroccan advance to the round of 16. The dispute for maximum penalties ended 3-2, after a 1-1 draw in normal time. The Moroccan team has its next match scheduled for Saturday, at 2 pm (Brasília time), in Houston, where it will face Canada.
