World Cup 2026: Morocco’s Ismael Saibari breaks into FIFA’s top 10 player rankings

Moroccan international Ismael Saibari has emerged as one of the standout performers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after breaking into FIFA’s top 10 player performance rankings following an impressive group-stage campaign with the Atlas Lions.

The Moroccan midfielder secured 10th place in FIFA’s overall tournament rankings, which are based on detailed analysis of player performances and match statistics throughout the competition.

Saibari received a rating of 7.06 for attacking performance, 6.32 for creativity and playmaking, and 5.27 for defensive contribution, placing him among some of the biggest stars in world football.

The ranking includes elite names such as Argentina captain Lionel Messi, France duo Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, Brazil winger Vinicius Junior, Norway striker Erling Haaland, and Germany’s Dennis Undav.

Saibari’s inclusion among football’s elite comes after his exceptional displays during the group stage, where he played a major role in helping Morocco secure qualification to the Round of 32 under coach Mohamed Wahbi.

The talented midfielder scored three goals in the group stage, finding the net against Brazil, Scotland and Haiti to make history as the first Moroccan and African player to score in each of his first three World Cup matches.

Beyond his goalscoring exploits, Saibari also impressed with his intelligent movement between the lines, ability to create chances, and strong connection between midfield and attack. His defensive work rate and tactical discipline further boosted his overall ratings across FIFA’s performance metrics.

The FIFA Performance Ranking is a newly introduced evaluation system launched during the 2026 World Cup. It measures players on a scale from 0 to 10 across three key categories for outfield players — attacking performance, creativity and playmaking, and defensive contribution — with the ratings updated after every match.

Saibari’s remarkable rise continues to underline Morocco’s growing influence on the global football stage as the Atlas Lions prepare for the knockout rounds with confidence and momentum.