Cassius Mailula
South African soccer player (born 2001)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cassius Tumelo Mailula (born 12 June 2001) is a South African professional soccer player who plays for Belgian Challenger Pro League club Kortrijk, on loan from Canadian club Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, and the South Africa national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cassius Tumelo Mailula[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 12 June 2001[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Ga-Molepo, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Kortrijk (on loan from Toronto FC) | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2016–2022 | Mamelodi Sundowns | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | Mamelodi Sundowns | 18 | (9) |
| 2023– | Toronto FC | 5 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Toronto FC II (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | → Wydad AC (loan) | 27 | (5) |
| 2025– | → Kortrijk (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023– | South Africa | 2 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16 December 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 17 June 2023 | |||
Early life
In 2016, he joined the Mamelodi Sundowns Academy, after being scouted at the Mandela Youth Challenge in Soweto, where he was named Player Of The Tournament and won the Golden Boot award.[2][3]
Club career
Mailula made his senior debut for Mamelodi Sundowns in the South African Premier Division during a 1–0 win against Chippa United in September 2022.[4][5] He scored his first senior goals on 14 October 2022, in a match against La Passe FC in the CAF Champions League, netting a hat-trick.[6][7] He scored his first league goals on 25 October, netting a brace against Maritzburg United.[8] Mailula was subsequently named the league's Young Player of the Season for his debut campaign.[9]
In July 2023, Mailula signed with Major League Soccer club Toronto FC, signing through the 2026 season, with an option for 2027.[10][11] He made his debut on 26 August 2023, in a substitute appearance, against the Columbus Crew.[12] He scored his first goal for the club on 24 April 2024 in a 2024 Canadian Championship match against semi-pro club Simcoe County Rovers FC.[13] In 2024, he spent some time on loan with the second team, Toronto FC II, in MLS Next Pro.[14] In August 2024, he went on loan with Moroccan Botola club Wydad AC through 31 July 2025, with an option for a permanent transfer at the conclusion of the loan, reuniting him with Rhulani Mokwena, who was his coach at Mamelodi Sundowns.[15] He scored his first goal for Wydad on 3 November 2024, netting a late winner in a 1-0 victory over FUS Rabat.[16] In September 2025, he was loaned to Belgian Challenger Pro League club Kortrijk through June 2026, with Kortrijk holding a purchase option.[17]
International career
In March 2023, Mailula was called up to the South Africa national team for the first time for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches.[18][19] He made his debut on 24 March 2023 against Liberia.[20]
Career statistics
- As of match played 26 June 2025[21]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goal | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Mamelodi Sundowns | 2022–23 | South African Premier Division | 18 | 9 | 2 | 0 | — | 10[c] | 7 | 2[d] | 0 | 32 | 16 | |
| Toronto FC | 2023 | Major League Soccer | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2024 | Major League Soccer | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | |||
| Total | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | ||||
| Toronto FC II (loan) | 2024 | MLS Next Pro | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Wydad AC (loan) | 2024–25 | Botola Pro | 27 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 3[e] | 1 | 36 | 6 | |
| Career total | 51 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 77 | 24 | ||
- Includes Nedbank Cup, Canadian Championship and Moroccan Throne Cup
- Includes Excellence Cup
- Appearances in CAF Champions League
- Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
Honours
Mamelodi Sundowns
Individual
