Former Ghana captain Jonathan Mensah has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 36, ending a career that included an MLS Cup title, two FIFA World Cups and 70 senior international appearances.
Mensah confirmed his decision on Monday, November 9, in a social media post thanking Ghana and the clubs he represented across several leagues.
“Here’s me announcing my OFFICIAL retirement from professional football. It’s been an honour through and through, forever grateful!” he wrote.
Born in Accra on July 13, 1990, Mensah began his senior career with Ashanti Gold during the 2007/08 Ghana Premier League season, making his debut aged 17.
He later played for South African club Free State Stars before moving to Europe, where he represented Granada, Evian Thonon Gaillard and Anzhi Makhachkala. He also spent time at Udinese but did not make a first-team appearance for the Italian club.
Mensah joined Columbus Crew in January 2017 and enjoyed the most successful spell of his club career in Major League Soccer (MLS). During six seasons with the club, he made 167 regular-season appearances before moving to San Jose Earthquakes in 2023. New England Revolution, whom he joined in January 2024, were his final club.
In total, Mensah played 193 MLS regular-season matches, scoring seven goals and recording three assists. He also appeared in 13 MLS Cup Playoff games.
Appointed Columbus Crew captain before the 2020 season, he led the club to the MLS Cup title that year. He also won the 2021 Campeones Cup and was named Columbus Crew’s Defender of the Year from 2018 to 2020. His displays in 2020 earned him selection in the MLS Best XI.
Ghana career
Mensah represented Ghana at youth and senior level, helping the country win the 2009 African Youth Championship before playing a central role in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt later that year.
He started six of Ghana’s seven matches, including the final against Brazil. The Black Satellites won on penalties to become the first African nation to lift the tournament.
Mensah went on to win 70 senior caps between 2009 and 2022, scoring once in a February 2011 friendly against Togo. He played at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, featuring three times in South Africa, including the Round of 16 victory over the United States as Ghana reached the quarter-finals. He played in all three group matches in Brazil four years later.
He was part of Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations squads that finished runners-up in 2010 and 2015, and also featured at the 2012 and 2017 tournaments. Mensah played every minute of the 2015 campaign, including the final against Ivory Coast, which Ghana lost on penalties.
He first captained Ghana in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Congo in September 2017. His final appearance came in a 1-1 draw with the Central African Republic on June 5, 2022, in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Mensah has said he intends to remain involved in football by mentoring young players and supporting communities.
