The finals of major tournaments are always a stage for tactical caution and defensive wariness, making scoring goals a rare occurrence. So what if we are talking about one player scoring more than one goal in the final match? This is what makes the achievement witnessed in the Arab Cup throughout its long history an exceptional event, as only three players have succeeded in breaking this rule and scoring a brace or more in the final scene, thus immortalizing their names in the golden records of Arab football.
A long history and fierce competition
The Arab Cup for national teams was first launched in 1963 in Lebanon. Throughout its various decades, it has witnessed numerous interruptions and strong comebacks, yet it has always retained a special character of rivalry and excitement among Arab nations. Amidst this fierce competition, final matches were often decided by the smallest of margins or a single goal, thus amplifying the significance of the achievement attained by the historic trio on the list, which includes stars from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Jordan.
George Ismail... The Iraqi Beginning
The first to break this streak was Iraqi star George Ismail, in the third edition of the tournament held in 1966 in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. In that memorable final match against the Syrian national team, Ismail scored a brilliant brace that contributed to the Lions of Mesopotamia winning the title, cementing his status as one of the most prominent strikers in that golden era of Iraqi football, and confirming Iraq's dominance in the early stages of the tournament.
Obaid Al-Dosari... The historic hat-trick
Decades later, specifically in the 1998 edition hosted by the Qatari capital, Doha, it was the turn of the brilliant Saudi striker, Obaid Al-Dosari, to write a new and even more exciting chapter. Al-Dosari didn't just score twice; he cemented his status as the hero of the final by scoring a historic hat-trick against the Qatari national team, the host nation. This heroic performance led the Saudi national team (the Green Falcons) to victory, and Al-Dosari's record remains the highest-scoring single player in the tournament's final.
Ali Alwan: Continuing the legacy in 2025
In the latest chapter of the tournament, Jordanian star Ali Alwan joined this elite list during the 2025 final. In a fiery encounter against the formidable Moroccan national team, Alwan scored a decisive brace, leading the "Nashama" (Jordanian national team) to an unprecedented historical achievement. This brilliance not only secured the title for Jordan but also placed Alwan alongside legends who came before him, confirming the development of Jordanian football and its ability to compete with the continent's elite in major tournaments.
This brief scoring record confirms the scarcity of talents who can withstand the pressure of final matches and translate it into abundant goals, as these three remain a landmark in the history of the Arab competition.
