Thapelo Maseko

Thapelo Maseko
Maseko (in blue) with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-11-11) 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
 Copenhagen
Number 12
Youth career
–2021 SuperSport United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2023 SuperSport United 32 (4)
2023–2026 Mamelodi Sundowns 19 (1)
2026 → AEL Limassol (loan) 12 (1)
2026– Copenhagen 1 (0)
International career‡
2023 South Africa U23 2 (1)
2022– South Africa 14 (2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23 August 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 29 June 2026

Thapelo Maseko (born 11 November 2003) is a South African professional Association football player who plays as a forward for Copenhagen in the Danish Superliga 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] He became th first player from the Cypriot League to score at a FIFA World Cup in 2026.[9]

F.C. Copenhagen

In August 2026 he signed for Danish Superliga side F.C. Copenhagen on a three-year loan for a fee of R28 million (€1.5million).[10][11]

International career

Maseko is an international for South Africa, having played the 2022 COSAFA Cup.[12][13][14] In January 2024, he was selected with South Africa for the 2023 AFCON.[15]

On 28 May 2026, he was selected by manager Hugo Broos to represent his nation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[16]

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.[17] At 22 years and 225 days, he became the second-youngest World Cup goalscorer in South Africa's history, behind only Benni McCarthy.[18][19]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 27 August 2026
Appearances by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
SuperSport United 2021–22 South African Premiership 801000——90
2022–23 South African Premiership 2441000——254
Total 3242000——344
Mamelodi Sundowns 2023–24 South African Premiership 6210307[a]07[b]2244
2024–25 South African Premiership 8110103[a]01[c]0141
2025–26 South African Premiership 5000101[a]0—70
Total 193205011082455
AEL Limassol (loan) 2025–26 Cypriot First Division 12131———152
Copenhagen 2026–27 Danish Superliga 1000—1[d]0—20
Career total 6487150120829611
  1. 1 2 3 Appearances in CAF Champions League
  2. ↑ One appearance in Carling Knockout Cup, six appearances and two goals in African Football League
  3. ↑ Appearance in Carling Knockout Cup
  4. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Conference League

International

As of match played 29 June 2026[20]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
South Africa 202220
202461
202661
Total142
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 [21]
2 24 June 2026 Estadio BBVA, Monterrey, Mexico  South Korea 1–0 1–0 2026 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Mamelodi Sundowns

South Africa

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA World Cup 2026: Squad List" (PDF). FIFA. 2 June 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 "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). "Thapelo Maseko tipped for a move to Cyprus from Mamelodi Sundowns". Vodacom Soccer. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  9. ↑ Vardien, Tashreeq. "Maseko of Monterrey and a goal made in Cyprus: 'Enjoy,' Bafana winger tells SA". News24. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Maseko relieved as he gets set to move to FC Copenhagen". Sowetan. 13 August 2026. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Mamelodi Sundowns Agree €1.5m (R28m) Deal With FC Copenhagen for Thapelo Maseko". centralnews.co.za. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Mkhalele pleads with PSL teams to give his Bafana youngsters a chance".
  13. ↑ "Mkhalele takes over Bafana and turns to fresh talent for Cosafa Cup".
  14. ↑ "Ethan Brooks to lead Bafana Bafana as squad assembles for Cosafa Cup".
  15. ↑ "Maseko will represent Vaal at AFCON". 5 January 2024.
  16. ↑ "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.
  17. ↑ "South Africa Reaches World Cup Knockout Round For First Time, Will Face Canada". FOX Sports. 24 June 2026.
  18. ↑ "Maseko sends South Africa into knockouts for first time". FIFA. 25 June 2026.
  19. ↑ "FIFA World Cup 2026: South Africa celebrate historic round of 32 qualification with Thapelo Maseko strike".
  20. ↑ "Thapelo Maseko". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  21. ↑ "South Africa vs. Namibia". National Football Teams. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  22. ↑ 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.
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