Mostafa Matar

Mostafa Ali Matar (, ; born 10 September 1995) is a Lebanese footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Nejmeh and the Lebanon national team.

Matar began his senior career in 2015 with Salam Zgharta in the Lebanese Premier League. In summer 2020, he joined league champions Ahed for a national-record fee of LL525 million and was promptly moved to Tripoli on a one-year loan. Matar returned to Ahed in 2021 and was their first-choice goalkeeper in their 2021–22 league title win. In summer 2022, he moved to Saudi side Al-Orobah on loan. Matar moved to Safa in 2024, and to Nejmeh in 2025.

Having represented Lebanon internationally at the under-23 level, Matar was called up for the senior team to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. He made his senior debut at the 2019 WAFF Championship, and participated in the qualifications for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Following five years at Salam Zgharta, Matar joined AFC Cup champions Ahed on 2 July 2020 on a five-year deal for LL525 million (around $333,000). The fee was the highest ever paid by a Lebanese club. He joined Tripoli on a one-year loan on 29 September 2020. He returned from the loan on 5 May 2021, and was Ahed's main goalkeeper in their 2021–22 league title win, conceding only six goals in 19 games.

On 21 June 2022, Matar moved to Al-Orobah in the Saudi First Division League on a 10-month loan. He returned to Ahed ahead of the 2023–24 Lebanese Premier League season, following the departure of Mehdi Khalil on loan to Jordan.

Prior to the 2024–25 Lebanese Premier League, Matar moved to Safa on a five-year contract. In August 2025, Matar joined Nejmeh ahead of the 2025–26 season.

International career

2017–2019: Early career Matar played for the Lebanon national under-23 team at the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship qualification, and was their captain on one occasion.

In December 2018, Matar was called up for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup squad for the senior team. His debut came on 8 August 2019, against Yemen at the 2019 WAFF Championship.

2021–present: Breakthrough Having been called-up as Lebanon's third-choice keeper, Matar played as a starter in the third round of qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, following Mehdi Khalil's ACL injury and Ali Daher resulting positive to COVID-19. He kept a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw against the United Arab Emirates in the opening game, and was nominated Man of the Match. Matar continued as Lebanon's starting goalkeeper at the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup in December, where he was praised for his performances despite conceding three goals in defeats to Egypt and Algeria.

In December 2023, Matar was included in the Lebanese squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. He started all three of Lebanon's matches at the tournament, keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw against China and being named man of the match.

Career statistics International

Honours Ahed Lebanese Premier League: 2021–22 Lebanese Federation Cup: 2023 Lebanese FA Cup runner-up: 2023–24 Lebanese Elite Cup runner-up: 2021 Lebanese Super Cup runner-up: 2023 AFC Cup runner-up: 2023–24

Nejmeh Lebanese FA Cup: 2025–26

Individual Lebanese Premier League Team of the Season: 2016–17