Sadio Mané (Part 3)

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26 Mar 2024

Sadio Mané (Part 3)

On 18 September 2021, Sadio Mané marked a significant milestone by scoring his 100th goal for Liverpool in a commanding 3–0 home victory against Crystal Palace in the Premier League. This goal also etched his name in the Premier League record books as the first player to score in nine consecutive league games against the same opponent.
Continuing his scoring prowess, Mané achieved another remarkable feat on 16 October when he netted his 100th Premier League goal overall, becoming only the third African player to reach this landmark after Didier Drogba and his Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah. This milestone was reached in Liverpool's emphatic 5–0 away win against Watford.

Celebrating his 30th birthday on 10 April 2022, Mané showcased his importance to the Liverpool team by scoring the equalizing goal in a hard-fought 2–2 draw against Manchester City, further solidifying his reputation as a key player in crucial moments.
Mané's impact was felt once again on 16 April in the FA Cup semi-final clash against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. He delivered a memorable performance, scoring two goals to propel Liverpool to a thrilling 3–2 victory, securing their spot in the FA Cup final for the first time since 2012. Liverpool went on to clinch the FA Cup title, adding to their trophy cabinet.

In the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Villarreal on 3 May, Mané once again proved his worth by scoring the winning goal in a tense 3–2 away victory, ensuring Liverpool's place in the final. Although Liverpool fell short in the final against Real Madrid, Mané's contributions throughout the season were instrumental in their success.
Despite narrowly missing out on achieving a historic quadruple, with Liverpool finishing as runners-up in both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League, they secured silverware by winning both the EFL Cup and the FA Cup, with Mané playing a pivotal role in their cup triumphs.

Sadio Mané made a significant move to Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich, signing a contract with the German club until 30 June 2025. The reported transfer fee amounted to 32 million , with the potential to rise to 41 million based on appearances and various individual and team achievements.
Making an impactful debut, Mané showcased his scoring prowess on 30 July 2022 in the 2022 DFL-Supercup match against RB Leipzig. He scored his debut goal, helping Bayern secure a thrilling 5–3 victory at the Red Bull Arena. Just a week later, he continued his scoring streak by netting his first Bundesliga goal in a convincing 6–1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

However, Mané encountered a setback on 8 November when he suffered an injury during Bayern's 6–1 victory against Werder Bremen, forcing him to leave the pitch after just 20 minutes of play. Unfortunately, this injury ruled him out of contention for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and he subsequently underwent surgery on his right fibula. After a three-month absence, Mané made his much-awaited return to action on 26 February 2023, coming on as a substitute in Bayern's 3–0 victory against Union Berlin.
In a controversial turn of events, Mané faced disciplinary action from Bayern on 13 April following reports of an altercation with teammate Leroy Sané in the dressing room after a 3–0 Champions League quarter-final loss to Manchester City. Despite this incident, Mané continued to contribute to Bayern's campaign.

Ultimately, on 28 May, Mané celebrated a significant achievement as Bayern Munich clinched the Bundesliga title following Borussia Dortmund's concession of two points. Despite the ups and downs throughout the season, Mané played a crucial role in Bayern's success, demonstrating his talent and determination on the pitch.
At the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations held in Gabon, Mané showcased his scoring prowess by netting a goal in each of Senegal's first two games, which were both 2–0 victories against Tunisia and Zimbabwe. However, his contributions couldn't prevent Senegal from being eliminated in the quarter-finals after a goalless draw against Cameroon. Unfortunately, Mané missed a penalty in the subsequent shootout, which led to Senegal's exit from the tournament.

Mané was selected to represent Senegal at the FIFA World Cup in Russia. He made an impact by scoring the opening goal in a 2–2 draw against Japan during the group stage. Despite starting in all three group matches, Senegal was eliminated after the initial stage, finishing below Japan based on fair play points.
Mané continued to represent Senegal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. He played a crucial role by scoring two goals and missing a penalty in a 3–0 victory against Kenya during the group stage. Senegal finished second in the group and progressed to the knockout stage, where Mané scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Uganda in the round of 16. He played in Senegal's subsequent matches as they reached the final, ultimately losing 1–0 to Algeria. Despite the disappointment of finishing as runners-up, Mané's performances earned him a place in the Team of the Tournament.

Sadio Mané is widely regarded as one of the top footballers of his generation, known for his versatility, technical skills, and prolific goal-scoring ability. His Liverpool teammate Fabinho described him as a complete player who consistently performs at high levels of intensity and concentration. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher hailed Mané as a "world-class winger" and likened him to legendary player John Barnes.
Mané's playing style has drawn comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo for his ability to score with both feet, his headers, and his remarkable speed and agility. Former Ajax defender Danny Blind praised Mané's goal-scoring prowess and highlighted his astonishing sprints on the field.

As a versatile forward, Mané possesses exceptional finishing, technique, and trickery in possession. His decision-making, tactical awareness, creativity, agility, balance, control, and dribbling skills make him a formidable attacking threat. He has earned praise for his intelligent play, passing ability, and knack for finding scoring opportunities.
Despite his relatively modest stature, Mané is noted for his defensive work-rate and aerial ability. He is capable of playing as a winger on the left flank, where he can cut inside onto his stronger right foot to shoot on goal. In the 2021–22 season, Mané showcased his adaptability by transitioning to a central striker role, demonstrating his versatility and effectiveness in different positions.