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The Crooked-Footed Boy Who Makes All of Morocco Dream of the 2026 World Cup
🇦🇷 Argentina /Sports

The Crooked-Footed Boy Who Makes All of Morocco Dream of the 2026 World Cup

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Ismail Saibari, a Moroccan footballer born in Spain and raised in Belgium, has become a star in the Dutch Eredivisie and a key player for Morocco's national team.
  • Despite a childhood diagnosis of clubfoot, Saibari's family's faith and medical treatment helped him overcome the condition, leading him to a successful football career.
  • He chose to represent Morocco, his parents' homeland, over Belgium, fulfilling a lifelong dream and contributing to the national team's aspirations.

Ismail Saibari, a rising star in Moroccan football, embodies a remarkable journey from a childhood medical challenge to international acclaim. Born in Spain to Moroccan parents and raised in Belgium, Saibari's path to becoming a celebrated player for Morocco's national team is a story of resilience and unwavering determination.

Saibari's early life was marked by a significant health concern: clubfoot, a condition where a child's feet are twisted inward. Doctors initially offered a grim prognosis, but his parents pursued treatment, including an orthopedic device, which, combined with his mother's prayers, ultimately corrected the issue. Today, those same feet are valued at an estimated 60 million euros and carry the hopes of a nation.

Since childhood, I have always said that I wanted to play for Morocco because my parents are from there. It has always been my dream and I have wished for nothing else.

— Ismail SaibariSaibari explaining his decision to represent Morocco over Belgium.

His football career has seen him rise through the ranks, eventually joining PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands. Despite interest from Belgium's national team, led by then-coach Roberto Martínez, Saibari remained steadfast in his desire to play for Morocco. "Since childhood, I have always said that I wanted to play for Morocco because my parents are from there. It has always been my dream and I have wished for nothing else," he stated.

Saibari's commitment was rewarded when he helped Morocco win the U-23 Africa Cup in July 2023. He made his senior debut for the national team on September 12, 2023, in a friendly against Burkina Faso. His journey, from overcoming a physical challenge to becoming a national hero, highlights a powerful narrative of perseverance and national pride.

Our family is Muslim, we firmly believe in God. My mother simply prayed for it to happen. Now, thank God, I have normal feet and a healthy body.

— Ismail SaibariSaibari reflecting on his childhood clubfoot condition and his mother's prayers.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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