Mané’s Last Dance: Senegal Star Eyes International Farewell
Sadio Mané, 34, has said the 2026 World Cup will be his last before retiring from international football, with coach Pape Thiaw urging the Senegal great to reconsider.
F or Sadio Mané, the 2026 World Cup is set to be a final bow on the international stage. The 34-year-old, one of the greatest African players of his generation, has said he intends to retire from international football after the tournament.
"And then I will retire"
"I will try to play in the 2026 World Cup. And then I will retire from international football," Mané said of his plans. The forward, a former Africa Cup of Nations winner with Senegal, has carried his country for more than a decade.
A coach who wants more
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has urged Mané to reconsider, saying he would do anything in his power to extend the forward’s international career. For now, Mané remains central to the Teranga Lions, who began their campaign against France.
Reporting: based on reporting by beIN Sports, ESPN and Al Jazeera, June 16, 2026.