Pathé Ciss

Pathé Ismaël Ciss (born 16 March 1994) is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a central or defensive midfielder for La Liga club Rayo Vallecano and the Senegal national team.

Club career
Ciss was born in Dakar, and joined the Diambars FC academy at the age of 12, joining his older brother Saliou and father Ibou, who was a coach there. He started his senior career at Diambars, before joining LigaPro side C.F. União on 31 July 2017.

Ciss made his professional debut on 13 August 2017, coming on as a late substitute for Gonçalo Abreu in a 2–0 home win against Real S.C. He scored his first goal abroad on 29 October, netting the game's only in a home defeat of U.D. Oliveirense.

On 30 August 2018, after União suffered relegation, Ciss moved to F.C. Famalicão on a one-year loan deal, still in the second division. He contributed with four goals during the campaign, as his side returned to Primeira Liga after 25 years.

On 2 September 2019, Ciss was loaned to Spanish Segunda División side CF Fuenlabrada, for one year. The following 13 July, he signed a permanent contract until 2023 with the club.

On 28 July 2021, Ciss signed a four-year deal with Rayo Vallecano, newly promoted to La Liga, along with teammate Randy Nteka.

International career
Ciss made his debut for the Senegal national football team in a friendly match with Bolivia on 24 September 2022. He was named in coach Aliou Cissé's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, making his tournament debut as a substitute in Senegal's 3–1 win over host nation Qatar. He went on to start against Ecuador in the team's final group match and England in the round of 16.

In December 2023, he was named in Senegal's squad for the postponed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held in the Ivory Coast.