Theyab Awana Ahmed Husain Al Messabi (8 April 1990 – 25 September 2011) was an Emirati professional footballer who played as a winger for UAE Pro League club Baniyas and the United Arab Emirates national team. His playing style and ability drew comparisons to former Emirati international Zuhair Bakhit.

International career

Youth

Theyab played for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the first match of the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup against South Africa. 2–0 down in the 90th minute of play, Hamdan Al Kamali converted a penalty to make the score 2–1 in the first minute of stoppage time; Theyab scored from a cross from Ahmed Ali to snatch a last-minute equaliser before the final whistle a few seconds later.

Senior

Theyab was brought to worldwide fame for the penalty kick scored with a back-heel in a friendly match against Lebanon on 17 July 2011. In the 78th minute, with the score at 5–2, a penalty was given to the UAE. Theyab took the penalty and, halfway through his path to the ball, he turned around and kicked the ball into the goal with his right heel. The coach reacted badly on the effort, and Theyab was immediately subbed off for the bad reception he received for the penalty. The incident was brought to prominence after a video of the kick was put on YouTube, which currently has over 2,800,000 views. The match ended 6–2 for the UAE.

Death and legacy

Awana died on 25 September 2011, aged 21, in a car accident in Abu Dhabi. According to reports, his Audi Q7 SUV crashed on the Sheikh Zayed Bridge when he was returning to Abu Dhabi from Al Ain after the end of a training session for the national team. The report stated he was using his phone at the time of the accident. Awana died at the scene. Rumours surfaced that his brother was also with him in the car during the time of the accident and rushed into intensive care before dying several hours later. However, Baniyas Club denied this rumor. He was buried on 26 September 2011, immediately after the Asr prayer, in the Baniyas Cemetery in Shamkha, Abu Dhabi. A month after Awana's death, the United Arab Emirates Football Association christened a newly-built stadium in Dubai the "Theyab Awana Stadium". A mosque in Kuwait was also named after him.

Career statistics

Club

International

Honours

Baniyas United Arab Emitates U17 United Arab Emirates U19 United Arab Emirates U23