Idrissa Gana Gueye

Senegal's all-time record cap holder and the first Senegalese to reach 100 internationals (24 March 2023), Gana Gueye is the veteran engine in front of the back four. After his Lille, Aston Villa and PSG years, he is in his second spell at Everton, where he made 25 Premier League appearances in 2025/26 — though his contract expires on 30 June 2026, leaving his club future open as the World Cup begins. A relentless tackler and interceptor, he won the 2021 AFCON (scoring in the semi-final) and started all three group games at Russia 2018 and featured at Qatar 2022. He was on the pitch as Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in the 2025 AFCON final, a result later controversially overturned by CAF (3-0 to Morocco; Senegal appealing to CAS). Under coach Pape Thiaw, he started against France in the 4-3-3 midfield three alongside Lamine Camara and Pape Gueye, as Senegal lost 3-1. At 36, he remains Senegal's most-capped and most experienced midfielder.