Sadio Mané Returns to World Cup Action

Sadio Mané will play for Senegal at the World Cup for a second time at the age of 34.

He holds his country's goal-scoring record with 53 goals.

Sadio Mané scored his only World Cup goal in a group stage game against Japan in Ekaterinburg during the 2018 tournament in Russia.

He featured in all three pool games for Senegal.

But Senegal was eliminated on Fifa's fair play rule, having picked up more yellow cards than Japan.

Sadio Mané was forced to sit out the 2022 World Cup due to a knee injury, and without him, Senegal reached the last 16.

He has since moved to the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in 2023.

Sadio Mané cemented his status as a leader in the Senegal squad during the Africa Cup of Nations final in January against Morocco.

Sadio Mané will have his first chance to extend his goal-scoring record at the 2026 World Cup.

He has stated that he will try to play in the 2026 World Cup and then retire from international football.

The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, with 10 African sides participating, including Senegal and Morocco.

Sadio Mané will be the doyen of the continent's strikers, with former Senegal international El Hadji Diouf praising his abilities.

With Sadio Mané on the pitch, Senegal's chances of winning a match rise to 60 percent, according to El Hadji Diouf.

Sadio Mané has won the Caf player of the year award, and his goal-scoring record is still unbroken.

He has played for several clubs, including Liverpool and Bayern Munich, before moving to Al-Nassr in 2023.

The appeals committee of the Confederation of African Football has accepted Morocco's appeal against the Senegal walk-off and awarded the final to Morocco.

Senegal's football federation has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against that ruling.