Cheick Diabaté vs Salif Keita
Mali against Mali. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Cheick Diabaté
Mali · 2012–13 · ST
- Almanac rating
- 83
- Rank in Mali
- #10 of 33
- Clubs
- Centre Salif Keita, A.C. Ajaccio, A.S. Nancy-Lorraine
Two goals at the Stade de France on 31 May 2013, the second with a minute to play, won Bordeaux the Coupe de France against Evian, and the 1.94-metre striker took the man of the match award. That cup sits with 50 goals in 127 league games for Bordeaux, eight in eleven Serie A games at Benevento, and 15 goals in 39 caps for a Mali side that took third at the 2012 and 2013 Cups of Nations. Career record: club career at Centre Salif Keita, A.C. Ajaccio, A.S. Nancy-Lorraine.
Salif Keita
Mali · 1968–72 · CAM
- Almanac rating
- 90
- Rank in Mali
- #1 of 33
- Caps
- 28 · 13 goals
- Clubs
- AS Saint-Étienne, Valencia CF, Sporting CP
The Black Panther scored 42 league goals in the 1970-71 season for Saint-Étienne, two behind Josip Skoblar, and finished his time there with 125 in 149 league matches. In 1970 he became the first winner of the African Footballer of the Year award, and he took three straight French championships between 1968 and 1970, two Coupes de France, and a place in the Mali side that reached the 1972 Africa Cup of Nations final in Yaoundé. Career record: 28 caps and 13 goals for Mali; club career at AS Saint-Étienne, Valencia CF, Sporting CP.
The verdict
The almanac puts Salif Keita ahead by 7 rating points, 90 against 83.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.