Senegalese forward Sadio Mane remains an iconic figure in the world of football despite trading European football for Saudi Arabian riches.
Even though Mane made his name in the English Premier League playing for Southampton, he enjoyed his success donning the Liverpool colours.
Although his time in Germany with Bayern Munich came to an acrimonious end, his move to Saudi Pro League club AlNassr offered a lifeline to his career.
But what makes Mane a football idol is his contributions both on and off the field.
At 30, Mane is Senegal's all-time top scorer with 38 goals and is only the second Senegalese player after Idrissa Gana Gueye to reach 100 caps for The Lions of Teranga.
His career spans over a decade after he earned his Senegal call-up in 2012.
Mane has been African Footballer of the Year twice and spearheaded Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations triumph in 2021. He also remains the team's talisman as the qualification for the 2026 World Cup takes shape.
Mane is known as a complete player who plays with high levels of intensity and concentration while others refer to him as a "world-class winger".
He can score with either foot and headers, along with making astonishing sprints.
A versatile forward, Mane is a prolific goalscorer, whose main traits are his finishing.
His speed, technique, and trickery in possession, as well as his decision-making, tactical awareness, creativity, agility, balance, control, touch on the ball, and dribbling skills make him an asset both at club and national team levels.
His ability to get into good positions, from which he can score goals or create chances for teammates makes him the first name on the team sheet.
The Bambali-born attacker has a total of 159 goals across the six clubs he has played for.
Outside the field, Mane who practices Muslim donated Sh47.8 million in 2019 to build a school in his hometown of Bambali, Senegal.
A year later, he donated another Sh7.8 million to help fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
As though that was not enough, Mane contributed another Sh95.6 million towards the construction of a hospital in Bambali in 2021.
In addition, he has also financed the building of a petrol station and a post office for his local community, supplying the school with free laptops and internet.
Mane is an ambassador for Right To Play, a non-profit organization that empowers vulnerable children.
He was appointed a Grand Officer of the National Order of the Lion by President of Senegal Macky Sall following the nation's victory at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
