Cristiano Ronaldo leads Al-Nassr's gesture to ex-Liverpool star Sadio Mane

24 November 2023 , 10:01

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Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated Sadio Mane's 100th cap for Senegal (Image: Al-Nassr)

Sadio Mane was given a cake by Cristiano Ronaldo and his other Al-Nassr team-mates to celebrate his 100th senior cap for Senegal.

Mane, 31, reached the landmark in Senegal's 1-0 win against Cameroon in Lens last Thursday, with the former Liverpool forward scoring the only goal of the game. He then hit a brace in his country's 4-0 triumph against South Sudan in Dakar two days later.

Mane has since returned to Saudi Arabia to continue his career with Al-Nassr. He was surprised by his club team-mates on his return, as they handed him a cake. Ronaldo was on hand to pass Mane a knife to cut the cake before they enjoyed the tasty treat.

Al-Nassr's squad chanted Mane's first name before the man of the moment thanked his employers for their support. The Saudi club's manager Luis Castro will hope the gesture inspires his team to an important victory against Al-Akhdoud in Riyadh on Friday.

Al-Nassr can't afford to draw or lose against the relegation candidates, as they have already slipped four points behind leaders Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League title race. Al-Akhdoud sit in the bottom three but defeated Al-Hazm 2-1 in their most recent game.

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Mane has made a decent start to life in Saudi Arabia following his summer transfer from Bayern Munich, scoring nine goals and providing three assists in 19 games. Yet much more is expected of a player who finished second in the Ballon d'Or vote last year.

Mane received a cake from his Al-Nassr team-mates (Al-Nassr)

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Mane has enjoyed a brilliant career to date, winning league titles in England, Germany and Austria. He's best known for winning the Champions League, among other honours, and scoring 120 goals during a successful spell with Liverpool between 2016 and 2022.

Yet Mane's achievements at international level will also be fondly remembered. He's scored a record 40 goals in 101 appearances for Senegal since making his debut in 2012. Only Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye (105) has won more caps for the African country.

Ronaldo gave Mane the knife to cut the cake (Al-Nassr)

Mane's finest hour at international level came in 2021, when he inspired Senegal to their maiden Africa Cup of Nations title in Cameroon. He scored the winning penalty in the shootout against Egypt in the final and was named as the Player of the Tournament.

Senegal's recent win against South Sudan was their qualifier for the next World Cup. Mane will be desperate to play in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026 after missing last year's tournament in Qatar with an injury - picked up just days beforehand.

Tom Blow