Thapelo Maseko
South African soccer player (born 2003)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thapelo Maseko (born 11 November 2003) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Mamelodi Sundowns and the South Africa national team.
|
Maseko (in blue) with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 11 November 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Sebokeng, Gauteng, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Mamelodi Sundowns | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2021 | SuperSport United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2023 | SuperSport United | 32 | (4) |
| 2023– | Mamelodi Sundowns | 19 | (1) |
| 2026 | → AEL Limassol (loan) | 12 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023 | South Africa U23 | 2 | (1) |
| 2022– | South Africa | 12 | (2) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 9 May 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 24 June 2026 | |||
Club career
Maseko is a youth product of SuperSport United F.C., where he started his professional career. He impressed during the 2022–23 season, as he helped SuperSport to a third-place finish in the South African top league.[2] This reportedly earned him offers from the likes of Belgian club KVC Westerlo.[3]
Mamelodi Sundowns
In June 2023, he signed for the Mamelodi Sundowns, the record 13 time-winners of the Premier League.[2] He played a fundamental role in the team that won the first African Football League in 2023, most notably scoring the only goal of the two semi-final legs against Al Ahly.[4][5][6] He was the best player and top goal scorer of the competition.[7]
AEL Limassol
He was loaned to Cypriot First Division side AEL Limassol for the rest of the 2025/26 season in the January transfer.[8]
International career
Maseko is an international for South Africa, having played the 2022 COSAFA Cup.[9][10][11] In January 2024, he was selected with South Africa for the 2023 AFCON.[12]
On 28 May 2026, he was selected by manager Hugo Broos to represent his nation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[13] He scored the winning goal and was named Man of the Match in a 1–0 victory over South Korea in the third group-stage match, securing his country's first-ever qualification for the World Cup knockout stage.[14] At 22 years and 225 days, he became the second-youngest World Cup goalscorer in South Africa's history, behind only Benni McCarthy.[15]
Career statistics
International
- As of match played 24 June 2026[16]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 2022 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2026 | 4 | 1 | |
| Total | 12 | 2 | |
- Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Maseko goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 January 2024 | Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo, Ivory Coast |  Namibia |
4–0 | 4–0 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations | [17] |
| 2 | 24 June 2026 | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey, Mexico |  South Korea |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup |