Mohamed Sissoko vs Salif Keita
Mali against Mali. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Mohamed Sissoko
Mali · 2004–13 · CDM
- Almanac rating
- 85
- Rank in Mali
- #5 of 33
- Caps
- 34 · 2 goals
- Clubs
- Valencia CF, Liverpool, Juventus
One goal in three seasons at Anfield, a low shot from twenty yards at Sunderland on 25 August 2007, tells you what Liverpool paid £5.6 million for in 2005. He won the UEFA Cup and La Liga with Valencia in 2004, the FA Cup with Liverpool in 2006, then spent three years at Juventus, and with Mali reached fourth at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations and third in 2013 across 34 caps. Career record: 34 caps and 2 goals for Mali; club career at Valencia CF, Liverpool, Juventus.
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 5 rating points, 90 against 85.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.