Sadio Mané retirement rumor debunked: fake statement was AI-generated

Reports claiming Sadio Mané had retired from international football with Senegal have been proven false. French newspaper L'Equipe, which initially carried the story alongside other outlets, later acknowledged the error. The speculation surfaced shortly after Senegal's elimination from the 2026 World Cup. According to L'Equipe, the rumor originated from a fabricated statement allegedly published by Senegalese media Le Quotidien, in which the 33-year-old forward supposedly announced his retirement. But journalist Malang Sané of Sport News Africa, citing sources close to the player, denied the claim. Sané stated that the circulated document was a forgery, likely created using artificial intelligence. Mané himself has made no public announcement about his national team future since Senegal's World Cup exit. His last comments on the matter came during the Africa Cup of Nations, when he said that tournament would be his last AFCON — but he never declared an end to his overall international career.