Youssef was born in Brussels, Belgium, with an innate affinity for American boxing, a passion that was ignited by his older brothers Michel and Abdel Qissi, who had been practicing the art since he could remember. As soon as he was old enough to don a pair of gloves, Youssef began training alongside his brothers, and his boxing career quickly gained momentum, with many matches won through devastating knock-out punches.
In 1989, Youssef had the unique opportunity to spend a few days in Santa Monica, California, with martial arts actor Jean-Claude Van Damme, a childhood friend of his brother Michel Qissi. During his time with Van Damme, Youssef was immersed in the promotion of the movie Cyborg, an experience that solidified his desire to translate his boxing skills into the realm of martial arts cinema.
In 1990, Youssef's first opportunity arose when he was invited to attend the shooting of the movie Kickboxer II, in which his brother Michel was starring as "Tong Po." Youssef dedicated himself to the hard work of the movie team every night, while he devoted his days to studying dramatic art and practicing his English.
For the next few years, Youssef worked as a model, participating in numerous fashion parades and photography sessions, but his true opportunity did not materialize until 1997, when he was offered a role as a killer in the movie Falkland Man, directed by Paul Schulz. This breakthrough led to another: the chance to perform in the supporting role of a movie directed by his brother Michel, Extreme Force (2000). Youssef portrayed the villainous "Cole" with a brooding intensity, which undoubtedly paved the way for future roles.
In addition to acting in the movie, Youssef's background in American boxing made him a natural fit for overseeing the choreography of various fight scenes in the film.
