Youssef Msakni facts for kids
Msakni with Al-Duhail in 2015
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 October 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Tunis, Tunisia | ||
| Height | 1.75 m | ||
| Playing position | Winger, forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Al Arabi | ||
| Number | 28 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2007 | Stade Tunisien | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2006–2007 | Stade Tunisien | 28 | (10) |
| 2008–2013 | Espérance Tunis | 104 | (37) |
| 2013–2023 | Al-Duhail | 119 | (73) |
| 2019 | → Eupen (loan) | 7 | (1) |
| 2021–2023 | → Al Arabi (loan) | 40 | (23) |
| 2023– | Al Arabi | 27 | (15) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2006–2007 | Tunisia U17 | 13 | (4) |
| 2009 | Tunisia U20 | 3 | (0) |
| 2009–2011 | Tunisia U23 | 4 | (1) |
| 2010– | Tunisia | 102 | (23) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
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Youssef Msakni (Arabic: يُوسُف الْمُسَاكِنِيّ; born on October 28, 1990) is a professional footballer from Tunisia. He plays as a winger or forward for the Qatar Stars League club Al Arabi. He is also the captain of the Tunisia national team.
Msakni has played over 100 games for Tunisia and scored 23 goals. This makes him one of the most important players for his country.
Contents
Club Career: Youssef Msakni's Journey in Football
Starting Out: ES Tunis Years
Youssef Msakni began his youth career at Stade Tunisien. In July 2008, he moved to Espérance Sportive de Tunis, a big club in Tunisia.
He played his first game for ES Tunis on July 26, 2009. This was during the first match of the 2009–10 season. Just two weeks later, on August 8, Msakni scored his first league goal.
On November 12, 2011, he helped his team win the CAF Champions League. He was the second-highest scorer in that competition with five goals.
In September 2012, he won the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 for the fourth time. He was also the top scorer in the Tunisian league that season with 17 goals. Many big clubs from France wanted to sign him. However, he decided to join a Qatari club, Lekhwiya SC, in January 2013.
Playing in Qatar: Lekhwiya and Al Duhail
On January 1, 2013, Msakni officially joined Lekhwiya SC in Qatar. His transfer fee was a record for an African player at that time.
He scored his first goal for Lekhwiya on February 10, helping his team win 4–0. Soon after, in March 2013, English clubs like Newcastle United and Arsenal showed interest in him. Lekhwiya then increased his price to keep him. On May 4, he won the 2013 Qatar Crown Prince Cup with his new team.
In the 2013–14 season, Msakni scored 7 goals in 12 league games. He also helped Lekhwiya in the 2014 AFC Champions League. He scored a goal and made two assists in a key match against Kuwait SC.
Later, Lekhwiya changed its name to Al Duhail. Msakni received offers from European clubs but chose to stay in Qatar. He wanted to play in Europe after the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Sadly, in April 2018, Msakni got a knee injury. This meant he would miss the 2018 World Cup in Russia. In January 2019, he moved to K.A.S. Eupen in Belgium on loan.
International Career: Representing Tunisia
Early Days: Africa Cup of Nations 2010
Youssef Msakni was first called up to the Tunisia national team in December 2009. He was only 19 years old when he played in his first 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. In the first match, he helped his team score an equalizer.
Winning the CHAN 2011
In February 2011, Msakni and Tunisia won the 2011 CHAN. They beat Angola 3–0 in the final. He scored one goal during the group stage of this competition.
Africa Cup of Nations 2012 and 2013
At the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, Msakni scored a great goal against Morocco, helping Tunisia win 2–1. He scored again in the next game against Niger, leading Tunisia to the quarter-finals.
In the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, he scored an amazing goal from 25 meters against Algeria. This goal helped Tunisia win 1–0 and was chosen as the most beautiful goal of the tournament.
Later Tournaments: CAN 2015 and 2017
Msakni also played in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. Tunisia reached the quarter-finals but lost.
He played a big part in Tunisia qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored against Togo and made an assist against Algeria. He also scored a goal against Zimbabwe. Tunisia was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
World Cup Qualifiers and Recent AFCONs
On October 7, 2017, Msakni scored his first three goals in one game (a hat-trick) for Tunisia. This was during a World Cup qualifier against Guinea.
He captained his national team in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. He scored a penalty against Angola and another goal against Madagascar in the quarter-finals.
In December 2021, he was chosen for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. He later scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against Nigeria in the round of 16.
In November 2022, Msakni was called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. In December 2023, he was part of the squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. In the opening match, he played his 100th game for the national team.
Personal Life
Youssef Msakni comes from a football family. His younger brother, Iheb, is also a Tunisian international footballer. Their father, Mondher Msakni, used to play for Stade Tunisien.
In July 2017, Msakni married Amira Jaziri, a Tunisian actress and model. They separated in 2021.
Honours: Youssef Msakni's Trophies and Awards
Espérance
- Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12
- Tunisian Cup: 2010–11
- CAF Champions League: 2011
- Arab Club Champions Cup: 2008–09
Lekhwiya/Al-Duhail
- Qatar Stars League: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20
- Emir of Qatar Cup: 2016, 2018, 2019
- Qatar Cup: 2015, 2018
- Qatar Super Cup/Shiekh Jassim Cup: 2015, 2016
Tunisia
- Kirin Cup: 2022
- FIFA Arab Cup runner-up: 2021
- Africa Cup of Nations fourth place: 2019
Individual Awards
- Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 top scorer: 2011–12
- Qatar Stars League Best player: 2017–18, 2022–23
- Tunisian Footballer of the Year: 2012, 2017
- FIFA Arab Cup Team of the Tournament: 2021
- Africa Cup of Nations Best Goal: 2013
See also
In Spanish: Youssef Msakni para niños
- List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
