'A special, special player. Different gravy. I'm in love' - Socceroos and Portsmouth faithful all say same thing as Kusini Yengi's stock continues to rise

Kusini Yengi has been receiving plenty of plaudits after his latest goalscoring heroics for Australia.

The Pompey striker bagged a double in the Socceroos’ 5-0 defeat of Palestine in their World Cup Group I qualifier in Perth on Tuesday. His fifth-minute penalty handed the hosts an early lead against their visitors, before the 25-year-old demonstrated quick feet and a clinical eye for goal to make the score 3-0 after 41 minutes.

The result means Graham Arnold’s side comfortably finished top of their group, as they head into the next stage of qualifiying with a 100-percent win record. For Yengi, it sees the Blues favourite finish the season with four goals in his past three games for his country and a goal record of 17 from 39 appearances for club and country in all competitions.

The former Western Sydney Wanderers front man will now take a well-deserved break before heading back to these shores to report for pre-season duties with Pompey at the end of this month. But he’ll do so with fans from both the southern and northern hemispheres excited to see what else is to come from a player who was a relative unknown prior to his switch to Fratton Park last July.

Here’s a selection of views shared on X, formerly Twitter, as Socceroos and Pompey fans rave about their ‘star boy’.

@DanielGarb: Impresses every time you see him in @Socceroos colours, Kusini Yengi. Big, slick, skilful and can finish. And like most tall strikers, probably still a couple years shy of his peak.

@HCfootball01: Kusini Yengi is a special, special player, the footwork for that goal, sublime.

@BlueArmyUTB: He is different gravy. Yengi x Bishop next season will be an incredible watch.

@ucattyt: I’m in love with Kusini Yengi and always have been.

@TokenWSWFan: Kusini Yengi has to be the starting striker from now on.

@zanofc: This is Kusini Yengi’s world and we are just living in it!!!! I love this bloke.. great finish.

@mikeshipp1971: This boy's gonna rip up the Championship next season.

@JakeHolFootball: Dude is a unicorn, so interested to see how he fares in the Championship.

@merson_pfc: Our starboy.

@TylerBr83599640: Genuinely think he could be an absolute menace in the Championship. Yeah I've seen enough give him the Ballon D'Or.