Sources close to Senegalese star Sadio Mané have denied the validity of the circulating news about his retirement from international football, stressing that the statements attributed to him are "completely fabricated" and were created using artificial intelligence, in an incident that reveals the danger of digital media misinformation.

The Senegalese newspaper "Le Quotidien" published on Friday, days after Senegal's elimination from the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, statements attributed to Mané announcing his international retirement, before later acknowledging that the statement was "fabricated" and generated using artificial intelligence technology.

Numerous global media outlets circulated the fake news, before officially apologizing for the error, in an incident that highlights the rapid spread of misinformation in the age of technology.

Journalist Malang Sane, via the sports news agency "Sport News Africa," categorically denied the rumor, based on statements from Mané's close circle, confirming that the player has not made any statement about international retirement since Senegal's exit from the World Cup.

It is worth noting that Mané, 32, had stated during the recent Africa Cup of Nations that it might be his last continental tournament, without making a final decision on his future with the "Lions of Teranga," which casts doubt on any other statements attributed to him.