TORONTO: Ismaila Sarr etched his name into Senegal’s football history after becoming his country’s all-time leading goalscorer at the FIFA World Cup during Friday’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Iraq.
The 28-year-old reached the milestone by scoring his fourth World Cup goal shortly before the hour mark, moving past the late Papa Bouba Diop to become Senegal’s highest scorer in the tournament’s history.
Sarr had equalled Diop’s tally just four days earlier when he netted a brace against Norway, a performance that also made him the first Senegalese player to score in two different FIFA World Cups.
His latest goal further cemented his place in the record books, with teammates quick to praise both his achievement and his dedication.
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Midfielder Idrissa Gueye said the Crystal Palace winger had fully earned the milestone through his commitment and hard work.
“He really, really deserves it,” Gueye said. “Yeah, he puts everything into what he does.”
Defender Moussa Niakhate also hailed Sarr’s influence, describing him as a quiet personality whose performances speak louder than words.
“He’s an inspiration,” Niakhate said. “He’s someone who is really shy, really quiet, but the most important thing is what you do on the pitch, and on the pitch, he is not shy. He just shows what he can do and always gives his best for the country.”
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Goalkeeper Mory Diaw echoed those sentiments, backing Sarr to add even more goals to his tally.
“He deserves it because he’s a very good player,” Diaw said. “Every day, he works a lot, so he deserves this goal, and I hope for more for him.”
Sarr’s landmark goal came in a dominant display from Senegal, who thrashed 10-man Iraq 5-0 to keep their hopes of reaching the Round of 32 alive.
The victory saw Senegal finish third in Group I with three points, behind France and Norway, while Iraq ended bottom of the group and bowed out of the tournament.
Despite the convincing win, Senegal’s fate remains uncertain. They must now wait for the conclusion of the group stage to discover whether they finish among the eight best third-placed teams that will advance to the knockout rounds.
