The World Cup smile: Mohammed Al Sharafi and Dr. Shadi Alshaikh

How it began

At the Morocco v Croatia match on 23 November 2022, Mohammed Al Sharafi appeared in the stands with his hat and his country's flag, and his pictures spread online with mocking comments about his teeth. He had asked nobody for anything.

Le360, 25 November 2022 · Al Jazeera, 28 November 2022

"Abshir, I am your brother"

Dr. Shadi Alshaikh saw the pictures, wrote publicly that he would take on the treatment of his teeth, and set out to find him. His words, "Abshir, I am your brother", spread across Moroccan and Arab sites within days, and reached him.

Al Jazeera, 28 November 2022 · Agadir24, 28 November 2022 · Aabbir, 26 November 2022

The meeting and the start of treatment

In early December 2022 the two men met and treatment began at the doctor's clinic. Al Sharafi received temporary teeth in the first weeks, so he could smile and eat again while the plan continued in stages.

Emarat Al Youm, 2 December 2022 · The National, 6 and 8 December 2022

Why it could not be done in one day

The examination and the scan showed that the bone of the upper jaw had receded a great deal after years without teeth. An implant needs bone to hold it, so the bone had to be rebuilt first, and the implants placed after it had healed. That is how the plan became stages spread over months, not a single session.

Sky News Arabia, 22 December 2022 · The National, 8 December 2022

Where the story stands today

Treatment has continued in stages as planned and has reached its final stage. Mohammed Al Sharafi is now attending Dr. Shadi Alshaikh's clinic in Amman for follow-up until that stage is complete. This page will be updated when it is done.

Clinic statement, 23 September 2026

What the story means for anyone considering implants

• Bone lost along with the teeth does not come back on its own. It can be rebuilt, but that takes time.
• Temporary teeth are part of the plan, not the final answer.
• A good plan is written in stages, and the patient knows from the start what each stage needs.
• The 3D scan sets the timing, not haste.