Boston, June 20 (QNA) - Morocco forward Ismael Saibari scored the fastest goal by an Arab player in World Cup history on Saturday, finding the net after 70 seconds in his team's 1-0 victory over Scotland in Group C.
Saibari's goal broke the previous record held by his compatriot Hakim Ziyech, who scored after three minutes and 30 seconds against Canada at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The strike was also the fastest goal of the 2026 tournament so far.
The PSV Eindhoven player has now scored in both of Morocco's opening matches, after also finding the net in the team's 1-1 draw against Brazil. He has two World Cup goals in total.
Saibari also became the second African player to score in each of his first two World Cup appearances, matching Egypt's Mohamed Salah. His performances have also drawn attention from European clubs, with reports linking him to a possible move to Bayern Munich.
Born in Spain in 2001 to Moroccan parents, Saibari moved to Belgium as a child before developing through European academies and eventually joining PSV Eindhoven in 2020.
He helped Morocco's Olympic team win the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations title and qualify for the Paris Olympics. Saibari has since made 31 appearances for Morocco's senior national team, scoring 10 goals.
At club level, Saibari played a key role in PSV Eindhoven's Dutch league title defense, scoring 15 goals and providing eight assists last season. He was named the Netherlands' Player of the Year, further enhancing his reputation as one of Europe's rising talents. (QNA)