Biography
Who is Youssef Msakni?
Early football career
The athlete Youssef Msakni began his development within the youth system of Stade Tunisien. He eventually transferred to the club Espérance de Tunis in July 2008 to continue his development. His debut match for the team occurred on July 26, 2009, during the opening day of the season against Olympique Béja, where he entered as a substitute late in the game.
Success followed quickly for the young player. By August 2009, he netted his first league goal in a match against AS Kasserine. Throughout his tenure with the club, he secured significant victories, including winning the CAF Champions League in 2011. By 2012, he had claimed the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 title for the fourth time and earned recognition as the championship's top scorer after netting seventeen goals that season.
International appearances
Youssef Msakni received his initial call to represent Tunisia in December 2009 under coach Faouzi Benzarti. He participated in his first Africa Cup of Nations at nineteen years of age. During his national team tenure, he has earned over 100 caps and scored 23 goals for his country. His contributions were vital during the 2011 African Nations Championship, where the team secured a victory against Angola to win the title.
His tournament history remains extensive. He competed in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored decisive goals against Morocco and Niger to help his squad advance. In the 2013 edition, he was named man of the match after scoring a long-range goal against Algeria. Later, in 2017, he played a crucial role in qualifiers and the tournament proper, scoring against Zimbabwe. He also led the team as captain during the 2019 edition of the tournament held in Egypt, where he added goals against Angola and Madagascar.
Time in Qatar and Europe
In 2013, the forward signed a contract with the Qatari club Lekhwiya SC. The transfer commanded a fee of 23 million dinars, which established a record sum for an African athlete at that time. He made an immediate impact by scoring in his debut month against Al-Wakrah SC. His performance in the AFC Champions League proved critical, particularly when he provided a decisive free-kick to secure a win.
While playing in Qatar, the club underwent a rebranding to Al Duhail SC. Throughout his time there, he secured multiple Qatar Stars League titles and domestic cups. Despite interest from various European teams, he remained in Qatar for several seasons. In 2019, he pursued a move to Europe on loan, joining the Belgian club K.A.S. Eupen. Eventually, in November 2025, he returned to his former club, Espérance de Tunis, following a long period abroad.
Personal history and family
Youssef Msakni was born on October 28, 1990, in Tunisia. He is the son of Mondher Msakni, who was a former player for Stade Tunisien and passed away in February 2026. He also shares a family connection with the sport through his older brother, Iheb Msakni, who is also an international football player.
Regarding his marital history, the athlete wed Amira Jaziri, who works as a model and actress, in July 2017. The couple ended their marriage in 2021. He stands at 179 centimeters tall.
Birthday and age
Youssef Msakni was born on October 28, 1990, which makes Youssef 36 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Youssef shares the date with 63 other famous people.
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