Édouard Mendy Retires From International Football At 34

Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 34, ending an eight-year career with the national team.

Edouard Mendy made the announcement on Sunday through his social media pages after earning 59 caps for the Lions of Teranga.

Sharing a video highlighting some of his best moments with Senegal, the goalkeeper wrote “Jerejef (Thank you) Senegal” in Wolof, one of the country’s major languages.

Born in France, Mendy began his international career in 2018 after being called up by then-Senegal coach Aliou Cisse.

At club level, he has played for Marseille, Reims, Rennes and Chelsea. He currently represents Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli.

Mendy was part of the Senegal team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021, beating Egypt on penalties in the final.

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He also featured in the following edition of the tournament, where Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 on the pitch.

However, CAF later awarded the title to hosts Morocco. Senegal has appealed the decision, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport scheduled to hear the case on October 8.

Alongside captain Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gana Gueye and Sadio Mane, Mendy was an important member of a Senegal side widely regarded as one of the country’s strongest generations.

He represented Senegal at the 2022 World Cup and remained part of the squad for the 2026 tournament in the United States.

Senegal’s campaign ended in the round of 16 after a 3-2 defeat to Belgium.

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The Senegal national team, now led by coach Patrick Vieira, also paid tribute to Mendy following his retirement.

The team said his legacy goes beyond his appearances, trophies and statistics, describing him as a player whose contribution will remain in the memory of the Senegalese people.

“There are careers that are measured in caps, trophies and statistics,” they posted.

“And then there are those that are measured by the place they hold in the memory of a people. Edouard Mendy, your story with the Lions now belongs to that category.”

Edouard Mendy leaves the national team after eight years, 59 appearances and a major role in one of Senegal’s most successful periods in international football.

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