Edouard Mendy retires from International football with Senegal

• Edouard Mendy has retired from international football at 34 after 59 appearances for Senegal.

• He was part of Senegal's 2021 AFCON-winning team and also played in the 2025 final, although CAF later awarded that final to Morocco after a disciplinary ruling.

• Mendy leaves international football while nominated for the 2026 Yashin Trophy alongside Yassine Bounou and Vozinha.

Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has retired from international football at the age of 34, bringing an end to a successful spell with the national team.

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Mendy announced his decision on Sunday, September 13, 2026, through a video shared on his social media accounts, accompanied by the message, “Thank you, Senegal”.

He leaves the Lions of Teranga after 59 international appearances, having become one of the most important goalkeepers in the country's recent history. The Senegal Football Federation also paid tribute to him following the announcement.

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Mendy was a key member of the Senegal side that won the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, played in Cameroon in early 2022. He was named the tournament's best goalkeeper after helping Senegal beat Egypt on penalties in the final.

He was also in goal when Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time in the 2025 AFCON final in January 2026. Mendy made one of the decisive saves of the match, stopping Brahim Diaz's late penalty to take the final into extra time.

Mendy also represented Senegal at the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups. At the 2026 tournament, he started Senegal's opening two group matches but suffered a knee injury during the 3-2 defeat to Norway and was unable to continue in the competition.

His international career comes to an end at a time when he is still being recognised among the world's leading goalkeepers.

Mendy was named among the 10 nominees for the 2026 Yashin Trophy, the Ballon d'Or award for the world's best goalkeeper. He is joined on the shortlist by fellow African goalkeepers Yassine Bounou of Morocco and Cape Verde's Vozinha, making it the first time three African goalkeepers have been nominated in the same year.

The nomination followed another strong season with Al-Ahli, with whom Mendy helped retain the Asian Champions League title. 

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Mendy spent parts of his early career in the lower divisions of French football before establishing himself at Rennes and then moving to Chelsea in 2020.