Hard Blow for African Giant: Team's Second Most Valuable Player Quits National Team

The 27-year-old Villarreal midfielder made the announcement shortly after Senegal's elimination from the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 against Belgium. The African representative squandered a 2-0 lead in that match, ultimately falling 3-2 after extra time.

According to transfermarkt.com, Gueye was the second most valuable player in the Senegalese squad at the World Cup. Alongside him, Ismaila Sarr, Nicolas Jackson, and Lamine Camara also share a market value of 40 million euros. Only winger Iliman Ndiaye is valued higher. "As long as this coaching staff is with the national team, I'm taking a break from international duty," Gueye wrote on his official Instagram profile, as reported by AP.

Thiaw substituted Gueye in the 66th minute, making him the first player to be taken off. Exactly twenty minutes later, Senegal's seemingly clear path to the quarterfinals began to unravel. Within less than three minutes, Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans scored. The latter secured his team's progression with a converted penalty in the fifth minute of injury time in the second half of extra time. Gueye had contributed two goals and an assist in Senegal's final Group I match, a 5-0 victory over Iraq, which secured their spot in the knockout stage.

The Senegalese have had a challenging year. In March, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stripped them of their African Cup of Nations title from this year's tournament. CAF subsequently awarded the continental championship to Morocco, who had originally lost 1-0 after extra time in the January final. The conclusion of the final match on January 18th was marred by one controversy after another. In injury time of the second half, the Senegalese got the ball over the goal line, but head referee Jean-Jacques Ndala whistled for an attacking foul.

Following another incident, he awarded a penalty to Morocco, which led to most of the Senegalese players leaving the field and, at the behest of coach Thiaw, heading into the stadium's interior. They eventually returned, and after a nearly 20-minute interruption, Brahim Diaz failed to convert the awarded penalty, sending the match into extra time. In the 4th minute of extra time, Gueye himself secured Senegal's triumph. CAF subsequently handed Thiaw a five-match ban, holding him responsible for damaging the good image of the final match and for unsportsmanlike conduct.