Youssef En-Nesyri: From Unknown Striker to Morocco's World Cup Hero

On 10 December 2022, in a quarter-final that stopped a continent, Youssef En-Nesyri leapt into Moroccan football history. He jumped 2.78 metres to head Morocco's winning goal against Portugal, sending the Atlas Lions into the World Cup semi-finals and making them the first African and Arab nation ever to reach that stage. For a striker who had spent years quietly grafting in Spain's lower leagues, it was a moment that redefined his entire career.

 

Born in Fez in 1997, En-Nesyri began his development at the King Mohammed VI Football Academy before joining Málaga's youth setup in 2015. His professional debut followed in the 2016–17 season, and though still raw, his aerial ability and physical presence were already evident. A move to Leganés followed, where he scored nine La Liga goals in 2018–19 and announced himself as a forward capable of making an impact at a higher level.

 

Sevilla came calling, and it was there that En-Nesyri truly flourished. In the 2020–21 season, he set a record as the highest-scoring Moroccan in a single La Liga campaign with 18 goals. He also contributed to Sevilla's Europa League campaigns and, in February 2024, became the highest-scoring Moroccan player in La Liga history, surpassing a record held since the era of Larbi Benbarek.

 

On the international stage, his reputation grew steadily. He scored against Spain at the 2018 World Cup, and by Qatar 2022, he was Morocco's first-choice striker, a role he owned. He finished his international career with 25 goals in 92 appearances for Morocco, cementing his status as one of the Atlas Lions' greatest modern strikers.

 

His club journey continued beyond Spain. In July 2024, he joined Fenerbahçe on a five-year deal worth €19.5 million, a club record, before moving to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad in February 2026.

 

Yet the 2026 World Cup in North America arrived without him. New Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi, shifting toward a younger attacking identity, left En-Nesyri out of his final 26-man squad, a decision that sparked fierce debate among fans. The omission was for technical rather than injury reasons, a cold end to a chapter that began with one of football's great headed goals.