Former Chelsea goalkeeper Édouard Mendy has announced his retirement from international football with Senegal at the age of 34, ending an eight-year career with the Teranga Lions after 59 appearances.
Mendy announced the decision on Sunday, September 13, 2026, through his social media accounts, bringing his time with Senegal to a close after representing the country at two FIFA World Cups and helping it win its first Africa Cup of Nations title.
The goalkeeper made his Senegal debut in 2018 and went on to establish himself as one of the country’s most important players of the modern era. He leaves the national team having recorded 31 clean sheets, according to figures reported following his retirement.
His decision comes shortly after Senegal’s 2026 World Cup campaign, where a knee injury ruled him out of the team’s knockout-stage meeting with Belgium.
Mendy’s international career began in 2018, when he was handed his first opportunity by then-Senegal coach Aliou Cissé.
Over the following eight years, he became a central figure in a Senegal side that transformed itself into one of Africa’s strongest national teams.
His biggest international achievement came at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which was played in Cameroon in early 2022. Senegal defeated Egypt on penalties in the final to win the country’s first AFCON title. Mendy saved during the shootout and was subsequently named the tournament’s best goalkeeper by CAF.
Mendy’s Senegal record includes:
- 59 international appearances
- 31 clean sheets
- Africa Cup of Nations champion
- Two FIFA World Cup appearances
- Senegal debut in 2018
His international career also included appearances at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2026 tournament in North America.
Mendy’s international achievements formed part of a remarkable rise that also took him to the highest level of European club football.
He joined Chelsea from Rennes in 2020 and quickly became the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. During his first season at Stamford Bridge, he played a crucial role in Chelsea’s Champions League triumph.
The Senegal international kept nine clean sheets in 12 Champions League appearances during Chelsea’s 2020/21 campaign, earning UEFA’s Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season award.
Chelsea later confirmed that Mendy made 105 appearances for the club, keeping 49 clean sheets before completing his move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli in 2023.
His club honours during that period included the:
- UEFA Champions League
- UEFA Super Cup
- FIFA Club World Cup
- Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal
Mendy’s final period with Senegal included the 2026 FIFA World Cup, although injury prevented him from finishing the tournament on the pitch.
He sustained a left-knee injury during Senegal’s match against Norway in June. After subsequently missing the team’s round-of-32 clash with Belgium, Mory Diaw took over in goal. Senegal eventually exited the competition after a 3-2 defeat to Belgium.
Mendy’s departure also comes as Senegal begins a new phase under coach Patrick Vieira. Reports indicated that Mendy communicated his decision before Vieira announced his first squad for the September international window.
There has been no indication in the available reports that Mendy’s retirement was prompted by a specific dispute or controversy. His announcement therefore marks a personal decision to close an international chapter after eight years of service.
Mendy’s retirement leaves Senegal without one of the key figures from the generation that delivered the country’s first AFCON title.
The national team already has alternatives, including Mory Diaw and Yehvann Diouf, who were part of Senegal’s 2026 World Cup squad.
For Senegal, the immediate challenge will be to replace not only Mendy’s goalkeeping ability but also the experience he accumulated through major tournaments and high-pressure international matches.
For Mendy, the focus now shifts entirely to his club career with Al-Ahli. His legacy with Senegal, however, is firmly established: he departs as an AFCON-winning goalkeeper who played a significant role in one of the most successful periods in the country’s football history.
Source context: Mendy’s retirement was announced on September 13, 2026. Career statistics and honours have been cross-checked against CAF, UEFA, Chelsea and other football records.
