Thapelo Maseko
Maseko (in blue) with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-11-11) 11 November 2003 (age 22)
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

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.

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]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
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.
List of international goals scored by Thapelo Maseko
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

Honours

Mamelodi Sundowns

  • South African Premiership: 2023-24; 2024-25

South Africa

  • Africa Cup of Nations third place: 2023[18]

Individual

  • African Football League Best Player: 2023
  • African Football League Top Goalscorer: 2023

References

  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup 2026: Squad List" (PDF). FIFA. 2 June 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Rising star Thapelo Maseko joins Sundowns".
  3. ^ "Sundowns complete the signing of Thapelo Maseko". 18 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Thapelo Maseko the goal hero for Mamelodi Sundowns as Tshwane giants humble Percy Tau's Al Ahly". Goal. 29 October 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  5. ^ "LAF / Demi-finale aller : Les Mamelodi Sundowns battent l'Al Ahly". 29 October 2023.
  6. ^ Baleka, Mihlali (29 October 2023). "Thapelo Maseko scores only goal of the game as Sundowns beat Al Ahly in first leg of AFL semi-final". IOL.
  7. ^ "Ligue Africaine de Football : Découvrez tous les prix décernés". 13 November 2023.
  8. ^ Mbuyisa, Spelz (11 January 2026). "Vodacom Soccer | News | Thapelo Maseko tipped for a move to Cyprus from Mamelodi Sundowns". Vodacom Soccer. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Mkhalele pleads with PSL teams to give his Bafana youngsters a chance".
  10. ^ "Mkhalele takes over Bafana and turns to fresh talent for Cosafa Cup".
  11. ^ "Ethan Brooks to lead Bafana Bafana as squad assembles for Cosafa Cup".
  12. ^ "Maseko will represent Vaal at AFCON". 5 January 2024.
  13. ^ "La liste de l'Afrique du Sud pour le Mondial, adversaire du Mexique dans le match d'ouverture de la Coupe du monde". L'Équipe (in French). 28 May 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  14. ^ "South Africa Reaches World Cup Knockout Round For First Time, Will Face Canada". FOX Sports. 24 June 2026.
  15. ^ "Maseko sends South Africa into knockouts for first time". FIFA. 25 June 2026.
  16. ^ "Thapelo Maseko". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  17. ^ "South Africa vs. Namibia". National Football Teams. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  18. ^ Edwards, Piers (10 February 2024). "South Africa 0–0 DR Congo". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.