Sadio Mane, the 34-year-old forward and former captain of Senegal's national team, has announced his retirement from international football. The announcement came days after Senegal was eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following a 2-0 loss to England in the round of 16 on July 4, 2026.
Mane made the announcement via a statement published by Senegalese newspaper Le Quotidien on July 10, 2026. In the statement, he expressed gratitude to the Senegalese people and his teammates, saying it was time to step aside for a new generation.
Mane retires as Senegal's all-time leading scorer with 43 goals in 107 appearances. He led the team to their first Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022 and captained them at the 2022 and 2026 World Cups. His last match for Senegal was the 2-0 loss to England on July 4, 2026.
Born in Bambali, Senegal, Mane began his professional career at Metz before moving to Red Bull Salzburg, Southampton, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and currently Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. He won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2019 and finished second in the 2022 Ballon d'Or voting.
