The report says Mendy represented Senegal at two World Cups and three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments during an eight-year international career.
His defining achievement came at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, when Senegal defeated Egypt in a penalty shootout after a goalless final. Mendy’s presence formed part of a golden generation that delivered Senegal’s first continental title and gave supporters a moment of lasting pride.
That triumph is likely to remain the centrepiece of his international legacy. The report also says Mendy wants to be remembered as a player who put his country first, despite injuries and difficult circumstances.
Mendy reportedly regards Senegal’s extra-time victory over Morocco in January as a second continental title. However, that claim remains heavily disputed.
The report says Senegal’s players left the pitch after Morocco were awarded a penalty, prompting the Confederation of African Football to later rule that Senegal had lost the final. The Senegalese federation has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, leaving the status of the match tied to an ongoing legal process.
That unresolved episode adds an unusual final note to Mendy’s international story: triumph in his own account, controversy in the official record.
Mendy’s departure would leave Vieira to establish a new goalkeeping hierarchy and shape Senegal’s next cycle without one of its most experienced figures. If the retirement stands, the next storyline will be whether a younger goalkeeper can carry the team into its next major tournament.