How Sadio Mané Became the Highest-Paid Player in the World | A Documentary

Sadio Mané is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and the Senegal national team. He is widely regarded as one of the best African players of all time, and has won several awards and trophies in his career.

Mané was born on 10 April 1992 in Sedhiou, Senegal, and grew up in a small village called Bambali. He was inspired by Senegal’s performance at the 2002 World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals. He started playing football on the streets with his friends, and soon became the best player in his village. However, his family was not supportive of his footballing ambitions, as they were very religious and wanted him to pursue a different path

Mané began his professional career with Metz in France, but only played one season before moving to Red Bull Salzburg in Austria. There, he won the league and cup double in 2013-14, and attracted the attention of several English clubs. He joined Southampton in 2014, and set a new Premier League record for the fastest hat-trick, scoring three goals in 176 seconds against Aston Villa in 2015. He also became the most expensive African player at that time, when he signed for Liverpool in 2016 for £34 million

At Liverpool, Mané formed a formidable attacking trio with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, and helped the club win the UEFA Champions League in 2019, and the Premier League in 2020. He also shared the Premier League Golden Boot with Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2018-19, and scored his 100th Premier League goal in 2021. He was named African Footballer of the Year in 2019, and finished second in the Ballon d’Or in 2022. He also represented Senegal at the Olympics in 2012, and the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021, winning the title in 2021

In 2022, Mané left Liverpool to join Bayern Munich in Germany, where he won the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal in his first season. However, he was unhappy with his role under manager Julian Nagelsmann, and decided to leave the club after one year. He joined Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia in 2023, becoming the highest-paid player in the world with a salary of €50 million per year

Mané is known for his pressing, dribbling, speed, and finishing abilities, as well as his humility and generosity. He is a devout Muslim, and often donates money to various causes in his home country, such as building schools, hospitals, and mosques. He also supports his hometown of Bambali, where he built a stadium and provided kits and boots for the local team. He is a role model for many young Africans, who dream of following his footsteps