The first game was in the season against Al-Jazira, which he also scored his first in the match. This goal was the equalizer for Al-Wahda in the second half, but the joy did not last, Al-Jazira made the second goal and the winning goal latter. Matar continued his brilliant presence in that season and scored 14 goals, as he was named the Best Emarati Young Player in the UAE League and led Al-Wahda to the UAE Pro-League and the President's Cup titles. He was the only player in that season that has been scored in the Goal of Muhsin Musabah five goals including two goals in the first round and two in the second round and a goal in the cup final from penalty shot out.

The Golden Boy did not shine strongly because of his involvement with the national team and the UAE Olympic and UAE Under-20, and he is the only Emirati player who participated in four games with the Al-Wahda and the national team and UAE Under-20 and UAE Olympic and distributed his effort in the four teams, which could not shine with Al-Wahda and he scored three goals with Al-Wahda, the club was ranked sixth in the league, and began the fatigue and exhaustion on Ismail making the press pounce on the United Arab Emirates Football Association to merciless the player from involved with the four national teams. But his effort did not go waste with the UAE Under-20, who was playing in the FIFA World Youth Championship 2003 in the UAE, but he achieved with the UAE Under-20 eighth place, and was the best player in the tournament, which was nominated for the best player and has achieved what he wanted. And has many offers from European clubs including the Chelsea reserve and Inter Milan and Asian Clubs including Japan clubs and Qatari Club Al-Sadd.

Ismail was shown a good form for Al-Wahda at 2004–05 season and scored 11 goals including doubles against Al-Nasr, Al Jazira and Al-Shabab and a winning goal against Al Ain. He was most prominent in the ranks of Al-Wahda players, help the club to win the league title and finished as runners-up in the Domestic Cup. Al-Wahda had the strongest line of attack in that season, and Matar was playmaker of heavy caliber, which he was nominated for the Best Emarati Player. Ismail was more vigor and vitality and strength and fitness and determination to win and was serious player at the same time at the season. In match against Sharjah in the quarter-finals of the President's Cup, he scored hat-trick with the club and ascended to the semi-final.

On 6 May 2009, Al-Wahda announced that Ismail had been moved to Qatari club Al-Sadd on loan until the end of the season to participate with the club in the Emir Cup.^[2] Commenting on his move, Matar said:

"The professional experience in Al-Sadd club will be useful to me on both, a technical and moral level. I am now 26-years old and it is difficult for professionalism in Europe, and I hope to be lucky with Al-Sadd in my short tenure."

Ismail took part in the Emir Cup quarter-final, coming on as a substitute for Hassan Al Haidos after 22 minutes. At the time of coming on, Al Ahli were leading two goals to none, and Al Sadd were a player down after Ibrahim Majid got sent off after 13 minutes. Ismail played a great match, scoring Al-Sadd's third goal in extra time, as well as creating the other two goals. He scored a penalty in the penalty shootout, which Al Sadd won 4–2 to ensure a place in the semi-finals. He was named the Man of the Match, in addition to being immediately awarded two thousand dollars by the Qatar Football Association.^[3]

On 11 June 2009, rumors spread that Al-Wahda has received an offer of amount 50 million dirham from the arch-rivals Al Ain,^[4] and offers from other Arabic clubs specifically from Saudi clubs Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad for Ismail, but Al-Wahda denied the rumors and extended Ismail's contract until 2014. To be the seventh player to extend his contract for five years, in an interview with club's website, Ismail has said that he had received offers from Saudi clubs and has offers from other clubs too but he rejected all because he loves the club that help him to improve.^[5]

On 28 September 2009, during Al-Wahda's 3–1 win against Al-Ahli, Ismail assisted Fernando Baiano. On 4 October 2009, Al-Wahda defeated Ajman 5–1 which Ismail scored one goal and assisted Fernando Baiano again. On 10 October 2009, Ismail injured in UAE's friendly match against Palestine, and was out for almost five weeks. On 24 November 2009, Ismail returned from injury^[6] and play against Baniyas in the UAE President's Cup and played in the last minutes.^[7]

On 1 December 2009, in week 7 of the season in match against Al Ain which known as UAE's El classico, he replaced Fahad Masoud in the 64th minutes., he had a chance in the last minutes but he did not succeed in the elusive and Waleed Salim which beyond ball. The match was ended 1–0 in favor of Al-Wahda. On 17 December 2009, Ismail named as The Most Popular Arab Player, commented Ismail, when received the award "This award is dear to his heart of pride and honor him, because the love of the fans and a badge on his chest and thanked everyone who voted him".^[8] On 20 December 2009, he played a key role in the match against Baniyas after scoring in 32 minutes, and was substituted on 79th minutes. The match ended 1–0 for Al-Wahda. Ismail had received invasion from Al-Ittihad to participate in the ceremony to retire star Hamzah Idris against Juventus on 30 December 2009.^[9][10][11]

On 30 January 2010 during AFC Champions League qualifying play-off, he played against Al-Karamah. He assisted Mahmoud Khamees to score the only goal in the match in the 72nd minute. Seven days later, on 6 February 2010, he scored against Churchill Brothers SC in the 85th minute and assisted twice, one for Fernando Baiano in the 45th minute and again to Abdulrahim Jumaa in the 63rd minute. The win helped Al Wahda qualify for the group stage of the tournament. He played 13 matches against Saudi clubs in the Asian Champions League, during which he won twice over Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahly, and drew 6 times, compared to losing on 5 occasions, while scoring 3 goals during those confrontations. Ittihad Jeddah is considered the most team that Ismail Matar faced in the AFC Champions League with 5 matches starting from the 2010 version, as it lost 2-0 to it, 4-0 in that version, and in the subsequent version it lost 3-0 and tied it 0-0, before He achieved his first victory in the 2019 edition 4-1, when Ismail scored a goal in that match. Matar played 3 matches against Al-Ahly Jeddah, winning 2-1 in the 2008 edition and drawing 0-0 in the other match, without shaking the net. While he played against Al-Hilal twice in the 2007 edition, he tied in the first without goals and scored a goal in the second, which ended 1-1 and qualified Al-Wahda advanced to the next round, and tied a third 2-2 in a match that brought them together in the 2017 edition. Ismail played against Al-Nasr in the final price of the 2019 edition, losing in one and drawing in the other, to bid his team farewell to the championship from that round and the 2021 quarter-finals, and scored his team's only goal despite the exclusion.

On 19 February 2011, Matar scored his first hat-trick of the season in a 5–3 loss against Ittihad Kalba, he overtook Mohamed Salem as Al Wahda's all-time greatest scorer in the Pro-League. In 2016, Matar has been rumoured to join Selangor FC in Malaysian Super league.

Ismail was part of UAE's squad for 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship which held in home country. He began his stardom to reach to the quarter-finals when he scored the only goal in the tournament against Australia. However, UAE knocked out from tournament in match against Colombia. He won the Golden Ball award and became the first Arab player to wins this award.^{[12] [13]}

Known Ismail when he leading United Arab Emirates national football team to their first ever trophy at the 18th Arabian Gulf Cup, and his goals was critical in the tournament. When he scored against Kuwait in the 90+1 minute, UAE qualify to semi-final and against Saudi Arabia in the 90+1 minute, UAE qualify to final. In the final match, he scored a goal against Oman in the 72nd minute to lead UAE to win their first title in the Gulf Cup, Matar was named as MVP player of the tournament after scoring five goals in the tournament that makes him top scorer of the edition. He is the third player to win both titles on the best player and top scorer in the tournament after Iraqi player Hussein Saeed in 1984 and Qatari Mubarak Mustafa in 1992.

Matar was named as one of the three overage players to participate in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom.

Ismail called up for two friendly matches against Palestine on 10 October 2009 and Jordan on 14 October. He was injured in match against Palestine and was replaced in 30th minute. On 5 November 2009, UAE coach Srečko Katanec announced the squad for the next training camp in November 2009, but Ismail was not called up because of injury.^[14] He was returned to the squad for the friendly match against Kuwait on 16 December 2009.

Matar faced cheekbone fracture during Arabian Gulf League in late 2018 and had to go through surgery.^[15]

As of 25 May 2024^[16][17]

As of 17 February 2022^[18][19]

Ismail Matar: International goals
#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	30 October 2003	Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah	Turkmenistan	1–1	1–1	2004 AFC Asian Cup qualifier
2.	18 November 2003	Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai	Sri Lanka	3–1	3–1	2004 AFC Asian Cup qualifier
3.	10 July 2004	Hohhot People's Stadium, Hohhot	China	2–0	2–2	Friendly
4.	11 November 2004	Al-Rashid Stadium, Dubai	Jordan	2–0	4–0	Friendly
5.	10 December 2004	Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha	Qatar	2–0	2–2	17th Arabian Gulf Cup
6.	9 February 2005	Al-Rashid Stadium, Dubai	Switzerland	1–1	1–2	Friendly
7.	11 October 2005	Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium, Al Ain	Oman	1–0	2–2	Friendly
8.	16 November 2005	Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus	Syria	2–0	3–0	Friendly
9.	22 February 2006	Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai	Oman	1–0	1–0	2007 AFC Asian Cup qualifier
10.	1 March 2006	People's Football Stadium, Karachi	Pakistan	2–1	4–1	2007 AFC Asian Cup qualifier
11.	10 December 2006	Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi	Slovakia	1–2	1–2	Friendly
12.	17 January 2007	Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi	Oman	1–2	1–2	17th Arabian Gulf Cup
13.	23 January 2007	Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi	Kuwait	1–0	3–2	17th Arabian Gulf Cup
14.	23 January 2007	Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi	Kuwait	3–2	3–2	17th Arabian Gulf Cup
15.	27 January 2007	Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium Abu Dhabi	Saudi Arabia	1–0	1–0	17th Arabian Gulf Cup
16.	31 January 2007	Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi	Oman	1–0	1–0	17th Arabian Gulf Cup
17.	21 June 2007	MPPJ Stadium, Petaling Jaya	Malaysia	2–0	3–1	Friendly
18.	28 October 2007	Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi	Vietnam	1–0	5–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
19.	26 March 2008	Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus	Syria	1–1	1–1	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
20.	14 June 2008	Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City	Kuwait	1–0	3–2	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
21.	14 June 2008	Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City	Kuwait	2–0	3–2	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
22.	22 June 2008	Al-Qatara Stadium, Al Ain	Syria	1–2	1–3	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
23.	29 August 2008	Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi	Bahrain	1–1	2–3	Friendly
24.	21 January 2009	KLFA Stadium, Kuala Lumpur	Malaysia	1–0	5–0	2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier
25.	21 January 2009	KLFA Stadium, Kuala Lumpur	Malaysia	2–0	5–0	2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier
26.	1 April 2009	King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh	Saudi Arabia	2–1	2–3	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
27.	7 September 2010	Al-Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi	Kuwait	2–0	3–0	Friendly
28.	11 October 2011	Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon	South Korea	1–2	1–2	2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier
29.	15 November 2011	Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City	Kuwait	1–0	1–2	2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier
30.	29 January 2012	Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai	Uzbekistan	1–0	1–0	Friendly
31.	29 February 2012	Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi	Lebanon	3–2	4–2	2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier
32.	12 October 2012	Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai	Uzbekistan	1–0	2–2	Friendly
33.	9 November 2013	Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi	Philippines	3–0	4–0	Friendly
34.	19 November 2013	Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi	Vietnam	2–0	5–0	2015 AFC Asian Cup qualifier
35.	9 November 2016	Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi	Bahrain	1–0	2–0	Friendly
36.	15 November 2016	Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi	Iraq	2–0	2–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier

Individual

• FIFA U-20 World Cup Player of the Tournament: 2003
• Al Hadath Most promising Arab player of the Year: 2004
• Pro-League Player of the Year: 2006
• Arabian Gulf Cup Player of the Tournament: 2007
• Arabian Gulf Cup top scorer: 2007
• Al Ittihad Pro-League player of the Year: 2007
• Al-Ahram Silver Team of the Year: 2007
• Al-Ahram Golden Team of the Year: 2009

Ismail Matar belongs to the Al Mukhaini family where his origins can be traced from the Sur city in Oman, he has a close relationship with the midfielder of Oman national football team and Al Ittihad player Ahmed Hadid as they are cousins. Ismail has two footballer brothers. They are Ahmed (retired) and Yasser (born in 1987, playing for Al-Jazira since 2009). Matar is married to the daughter of Adel Khalifa Al Shamsi, they married in Abu Dhabi on 13 July 2007, the couple have two children, Alia (born 4 December 2008) and Ali (born 1 November 2010). His father died on 2 January 2009 and Matar was in the 19th Arabian Gulf Cup in Oman, he did not participate with the national team and instead left to the UAE to attend the funeral of his father.^[20]

• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps