Senegalese star Sadio Mané has announced his retirement from international football, ending a career that spanned over a decade with his country's national team, just days after the 'Lions of Teranga' were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup.

Mané, 34, made the announcement in a statement published by the Senegalese newspaper 'Le Quotidien', in which he confirmed that his participation in the 2026 World Cup was his last wearing the national team jersey, after exiting the tournament in the round of 32 with a 3-2 extra-time loss to Belgium.

Despite ending his international career, Mané will continue his club career, as he is under contract with Saudi club Al Nassr until 2027.

An emotional farewell message

Mané addressed an emotional message to Senegalese fans, in which he affirmed that he gave everything he had in defense of his country's colors.

In his statement, as reported by French outlet 'L'Équipe', he said: 'Know that I sacrificed everything for this flag. I gave my best and always fought with all I had for our country.'

He added: 'Your constant support has been the real fuel for all the successes I have achieved.'

A new role

The former Senegal captain affirmed that he does not intend to stay away from football in his country, indicating his desire to continue serving the national team from a different position after his international retirement.

He said: 'Tomorrow, I will be happy to put my experience at the service of the nation, whether within a technical staff, on the coaching bench, or inside sports institutions.'

More than a decade in the Senegal jersey

Mané began his career with the Senegal national team in 2012, playing 130 international matches during that time, becoming one of the most prominent Senegalese football stars in history.

The former Metz winger was one of the main contributors to Senegal's victory in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, after losing the final in the 2019 edition. He also won the 2025 final, but CAF awarded Morocco the title by default, pending the final decision from the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

He also played a prominent leadership role within the team, and one of the most iconic scenes that cemented his status was his call for his teammates to return to the pitch during the last Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco.