PLAYER SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sabri Ben Hessen |
| Date of Birth | 13 June 1996 (Age: 30) |
| Place of Birth | Sfax, Tunisia |
| Nationality | Tunisian |
| Height | 1.89 m / 6 ft 2 in |
| Weight | 79 kg / 174 lbs |
| Position | Goalkeeper |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Squad Number | #32 (Etoile du Sahel) |
| Current Club | Etoile du Sahel |
| Previous Clubs | CS Sfaxien, CS Hammam-Lif (loan) |
| International Caps | 2 |
| International Goals | 0 |
| World Cup Appearances | 2026 (squad member) |
| Contract Until | — |
| Market Value | €341.9K–€450K |
The Frozen Moment
Stade Olympique de Radès. March 28, 2026. Tunisia and Haiti, locked in a friendly that would mark a significant milestone for a goalkeeper who had waited years for his chance. For Sabri Ben Hessen, the 29-year-old shot-stopper who had spent the vast majority of his career on the bench at CS Sfaxien, this was the moment that made all those years of patience worthwhile.
The match ended 1-0 to Tunisia. It was his senior international debut—and he kept a clean sheet. After representing Tunisia at every youth level, from U17 to U23, Ben Hessen had finally earned his first senior cap. His performance earned a FotMob rating of 7.9.
Fast forward to June 2026. The World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Ben Hessen was named in Sabri Lamouchi’s 26-man squad as one of Tunisia’s three goalkeepers. He was there—on football’s grandest stage.
Tunisia were drawn in Group G alongside Japan, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The tournament was brutal—a 5-1 defeat to Sweden, a 4-0 loss to Japan, a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands. Tunisia finished bottom of their group and were eliminated without a point. Ben Hessen remained an unused substitute for all three matches.
But for the boy from Sfax who had waited eleven years for his senior debut, who had won three Tunisian Cups with CS Sfaxien, who had finally become a starter at age 29, the World Cup selection was a personal victory.
Origins
Sabri Ben Hessen was born on June 13, 1996, in Sfax, Tunisia. His footballing journey began in the youth academy of CS Sfaxien, the club in his hometown. He came through the ranks and signed his first professional contract with CS Sfaxien in 2013.
His international career began at the youth level. He represented Tunisia U17 at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He later played for the U20 and U23 teams, featuring for the Tunisian U23 side at the 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations. He was a regular presence in Tunisia’s youth setup, accumulating caps at every level, but the senior breakthrough did not come immediately.
The Forge
CS Sfaxien (2013–2025):
Ben Hessen spent over a decade at CS Sfaxien, but his path to regular first-team football was slow. He signed his first professional contract in 2013 but spent years as a backup. In the 2018–19 season, he finally made his league debut for the club, making just 1 appearance.
The early years were characterized by limited opportunities. He made 1 appearance in 2019–20, 2 in 2020–21, and 1 in 2022–23. His big breakthrough came in the 2023–24 season, where he made 17 league appearances for CS Sfaxien. By the 2024–25 season, he had made 3 league appearances before his departure.
He also had a brief loan spell at CS Hammam-Lif in 2018. His loyalty to CS Sfaxien was evident through multiple contract extensions—first in 2018 to 2022, then in 2022 to 2024, and finally in 2024 to 2027.
Etoile du Sahel (2025–Present):
On August 2, 2025, Ben Hessen made the move across Tunisian football, signing a three-year contract with Etoile du Sahel. The move was a free transfer.
In his first season with Etoile du Sahel (2025–26), Ben Hessen established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. He made 23 league appearances, accumulating 2,070 minutes of playing time. He was a regular starter, showing consistent form and playing a key role for the club.
International Career:
Ben Hessen’s senior international breakthrough came late. Despite representing Tunisia at U17, U20, and U23 levels, he had to wait until 2026 for his senior debut. It came in a friendly against Haiti on March 28, 2026—a 1-0 victory in which he kept a clean sheet.
He was named in Tunisia’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He was one of three goalkeepers selected, alongside Abdelmouhib Chamakh and Aymen Dahman. At the World Cup, Ben Hessen was an unused substitute in all three group matches against Sweden, Japan, and the Netherlands.
The Anatomy of His Game
Sabri Ben Hessen is a 30-year-old goalkeeper defined by his physical presence, shot-stopping ability, and late-blooming career trajectory. Standing at 1.89 meters, he commands his penalty area well.
In Possession:
Ben Hessen is a right-footed goalkeeper with reliable distribution. His tall frame allows him to dominate his area on crosses and set pieces. He is not known for his attacking contributions—he has no career goals—but his primary value lies in his shot-stopping ability.
Out of Possession:
Defensively, Ben Hessen is a presence in goal. In the 2025–26 season with Etoile du Sahel, he made 23 league appearances and kept several clean sheets, including a 1-0 win over CA Bizertin in May 2026 and another over Avenir de La Marsa later that month. In his senior international debut against Haiti, he kept a clean sheet and earned a FotMob rating of 7.9.
Psychological Edge:
Ben Hessen’s mental resilience is his defining quality. He spent over a decade at CS Sfaxien as a backup goalkeeper, making very few appearances in his early years. Many players would have given up. Instead, he persevered, earned his chance in the 2023–24 season, and eventually became a first-choice goalkeeper at age 29. His contract extensions at CS Sfaxien and his move to Etoile du Sahel demonstrate his commitment to his career. His World Cup selection at age 30, despite making only 2 senior international appearances, is a testament to his perseverance.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: The Data Snapshot (2025/26 Season)
| Competition | Apps | Minutes | Goals | Clean Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tunisian Ligue I (Etoile du Sahel) | 23 | 2,070 | 0 | — |
| FIFA World Cup 2026 (Tunisia) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 23 | 2,070 | 0 | — |
TABLE B: Career (League)
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | CS Sfaxien | Tunisian Ligue I | 0 | 0 |
| 2014–15 | CS Sfaxien | Tunisian Ligue I | 0 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | CS Sfaxien | Tunisian Ligue I | 0 | 0 |
| 2016–17 | CS Sfaxien | Tunisian Ligue I | 0 | 0 |
| 2017–18 | CS Hammam-Lif (loan) | Tunisian Ligue II | 0 | 0 |
| 2018–19 | CS Sfaxien | Tunisian Ligue I | 1 | 0 |
| 2019–20 | CS Sfaxien | Tunisian Ligue I | 1 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | CS Sfaxien | Tunisian Ligue I | 2 | 0 |
| 2021–22 | CS Sfaxien | Tunisian Ligue I | 1 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | CS Sfaxien | Tunisian Ligue I | 1 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | CS Sfaxien | Tunisian Ligue I | 17 | 0 |
| 2024–25 | CS Sfaxien | Tunisian Ligue I | 3 | 0 |
| 2025–26 | Etoile du Sahel | Tunisian Ligue I | 23 | 0 |
| TOTAL | — | — | ~49 | 0 |
TABLE C: International Record (2026)
| Tournament/Competition | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Friendlies | 1 | 0 |
| FIFA World Cup 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 2 | 0 |
TABLE D: Career Milestones
| Year | Achievement | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Professional Contract | Signed with CS Sfaxien |
| 2013 | U17 World Cup | Represented Tunisia U17 |
| 2015 | U23 Debut | Represented Tunisia U23 |
| 2018 | Loan | CS Hammam-Lif |
| 2019 | League Debut | First appearance for CS Sfaxien |
| 2023–24 | Breakthrough | 17 league appearances for CS Sfaxien |
| 2025 | Etoile du Sahel Move | Free transfer |
| 2026 | Senior Debut | vs Haiti, clean sheet |
| 2026 | World Cup Selection | Named in Tunisia’s 26-man squad |
What these figures reveal is a player of extraordinary patience and late-blooming success. Ben Hessen spent over a decade at CS Sfaxien as a backup, making very few appearances in his first ten seasons. His breakthrough came at age 27 in the 2023–24 season, and he seized his opportunity. His move to Etoile du Sahel in 2025 finally made him a first-choice goalkeeper—at age 29. His market value of €341.9K–€450K reflects his late-blooming trajectory.
The Present Tense
Sabri Ben Hessen is 30 years old, in the prime of his career. He is Etoile du Sahel’s goalkeeper, a Tunisian international, and a 2026 World Cup squad member.
The Etoile du Sahel Story:
Ben Hessen joined Etoile du Sahel in August 2025 on a free transfer from CS Sfaxien. In the 2025–26 season, he made 23 league appearances, accumulating 2,070 minutes of playing time. He established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper and became a regular starter.
The World Cup Campaign:
Ben Hessen was named in Tunisia’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Tunisia were drawn in Group G alongside Japan, the Netherlands, and Sweden. He was an unused substitute in all three group matches. Tunisia were eliminated without a point.
International Record:
Ben Hessen has earned 2 senior caps for Tunisia since his debut in 2026. He made his debut against Haiti on March 28, 2026, keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory. He previously represented Tunisia at U17, U20, and U23 levels.
Beyond the Touchline
Off the pitch, Sabri Ben Hessen is defined by his patience and perseverance. His career arc is unique—most professional footballers who spend a decade as a backup never become first-choice. Ben Hessen waited, worked, and finally earned his opportunity.
His decision to leave CS Sfaxien in 2025, the club he had been with since his youth, was a significant one. He had renewed his contract multiple times, including a three-year extension in 2024 that would have kept him at the club until 2027. But the opportunity to become a first-choice goalkeeper at Etoile du Sahel was too important to pass up.
His senior debut at age 29—coming 11 years after his first professional contract—is a testament to his resilience. The World Cup selection that followed was the culmination of a long journey. Though he did not play a single minute in the tournament, being part of Tunisia’s World Cup squad represented a personal triumph for a player who had spent more time on the bench than on the pitch for most of his career.
The Verdict from the Camp
BBC Sport
, on Ben Hessen’s World Cup selection:
Sabri Ben Hessen (Etoile Sahel) was named in Tunisia’s World Cup squad as one of three goalkeepers.
FootAfrica
, on Ben Hessen’s 2025–26 season:
Ben Hessen made 23 league appearances for Etoile du Sahel in the 2025–26 season, accumulating 2,070 minutes.
FotMob
, on Ben Hessen’s international debut:
Ben Hessen made his senior debut for Tunisia against Haiti on March 29, 2026, playing 90 minutes and earning a 7.9 rating in a 1-0 victory.
Wikipedia
, on Ben Hessen’s career:
Ben Hessen signed his first professional contract with CS Sfaxien in 2013. He represented Tunisia at U17, U20, and U23 levels before making his senior debut in 2026.
抖音百科
, on Ben Hessen’s World Cup experience:
Ben Hessen was named in Tunisia’s 2026 World Cup squad but did not make an appearance in any of the three group matches.
Footballdatabase
, on Ben Hessen’s statistics:
Ben Hessen has won the Tunisian Cup three times with CS Sfaxien (2019, 2021, 2022) and was a runner-up in the Tunisian Ligue I in 2020.
Where Next?
Sabri Ben Hessen is 30 years old, in the prime of his career. He is established at Etoile du Sahel, a Tunisian international, and a World Cup squad member.
For Tunisia
, Ben Hessen represents the future in goal. His late breakthrough means he still has several years of international football ahead of him. He will be expected to compete for the starting role in future tournaments, including the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. His World Cup experience, even as an unused substitute, will be valuable.
For Etoile du Sahel
, Ben Hessen is a key player. He established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper in the 2025–26 season. His contract is ongoing, and he will be expected to continue his consistent form. His market value of €341.9K–€450K reflects his status as a reliable Tunisian goalkeeper.
His career trajectory is one of extraordinary patience—from a decade as a backup at CS Sfaxien to a first-choice goalkeeper at Etoile du Sahel, from youth international to senior debut at age 29, from obscurity to a World Cup squad. He has overcome the frustration of a career spent waiting and has emerged as a late bloomer at the highest level.
The boy from Sfax who signed his first contract in 2013, who spent years on the bench, who finally became a starter at 29, who represented Tunisia at a World Cup—Sabri Ben Hessen’s journey is a story of perseverance, patience, and the pursuit of a dream on football’s greatest stage.
