Morocco hero Youssef En-Nesyri jumped to an incredible height of 9ft1 against Portugal

It has been revealed that quarter-final hero Youssef En-Nesyri leapt to an incredible 9ft1 to open the scoring for Morocco against Portugal on Saturday. 

The Morocco forward rose highest above Diogo Costa and Ruben Dias to nod in Yahia Attiyat-Allah’s inviting cross from the left-hand side. It pushed him out alone as Morocco’s top goalscorer at World Cups. 

His header proved to be the decisive goal, with Morocco eliminating Portugal to advance to the semi-finals – ensuring they became the first African and Arab country to reach that stage of a World Cup.

In addition to the honour of sending his country on the way to unchartered waters, En-Nesyri also achieved the remarkable feat of jumping to an astonishing height of 9ft1, eight inches higher than his opponent on Saturday, Cristiano Ronaldo, managed against Sampdoria in 2019. 

His leap against Portugal would have seen him outstrip the height of a North African ostrich, native to Morocco. They can grow up to 9ft tall. 

Ronaldo reached a height of 8ft3 as he rose highest to give Juventus victory away at Sampdoria in 2019. He was hailed at the time for his astonishing athleticism having risen to meet Alex Sandro’s deep cross. 

En-Nesyri jumped so high that neither Dias nor the goalkeeper Costa could match his leap, and with the goalkeeper having abdicated his net, the Morocco forward was able to simply knock the ball down. 

The forward leapt an astonishing 9ft1 to head home for Morocco and set them on the path to the semi-finals

Cristiano Ronaldo’s header against Sampdoria in December 2019 was outdone by En-Nesyri 

In a sign of just how high he had jumped, as he came down En-Nesyri appeared to stumble as he wheeled away to celebrate.  

After a backs-to-the-wall rearguard action in the second half, Morocco saw out the win to set up a semi-final date with France after they beat England in the day’s late game.   

‘I’ve always believed in Youssef [En Nesyri],’ his head coach Walid Regragui said after the game.

The forward – who is his country’s top scorer at World Cups – was hailed by his coach after the game

‘Even Moroccan journalists criticised me when I defended him, but he’s here. I accepted the criticism and I said to him he is a top player. He’s the top scorer in history for Morocco at the World Cup. 

‘Coaches have reasons for choices and I’ve always believed in him, because of his energy on the pitch, that’s why he plays for Sevilla. 

‘He’s like [Olivier] Giroud for France, he works so hard for the team. Sometimes [these types of strikers] are criticised. He’s from Morocco, he trained in Morocco and he’s an important player. I’m very proud of him. His goal was a sign of destiny.’