There are footballers who announce themselves through goals and headlines, and then there are those who make their presence felt through tackles, interceptions and quiet authority. Assim Madibo has long belonged to the latter category. The son of a police officer, his game has always reflected steely grit and a no-nonsense edge, qualities that made him an important part of Qatar’s 2019 Asian Cup triumph. It was Madibo, after all, whose challenge in a friendly denied Neymar a Copa América and briefly pushed him into wider recognition.

Yet the years that followed threatened to move him into the margins. Injuries disrupted his rhythm and turned a once-automatic midfield presence into a player drifting in and out of the national team picture. The relentless ball-winner of 2019 has inevitably evolved, but his value has not disappeared. A return to childhood club Al-Wakrah last season offered a reset, and with it a reminder that experience can still anchor a midfield.

He may no longer cover ground with the same intensity, but Madibo remains a trusted option when structure is needed.