El Hadji Diouf vs Kalidou Koulibaly
Senegal against Senegal. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
El Hadji Diouf
Senegal · 2001–03 · CAM
- Almanac rating
- 88
- Rank in Senegal
- #3 of 33
- Caps
- 70 · 24 goals
- Clubs
- R.C. Lens, Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers
On 31 May 2002 in Seoul he burst down the left and drove in the low cross that Papa Bouba Diop forced over the line, and Senegal beat holders France 1-0 on their World Cup debut. Back-to-back African Footballer of the Year awards in 2001 and 2002 sat alongside a place in the 2002 World Cup All-Star team, a run to the quarter-finals, the Africa Cup of Nations final that February, and the League Cup with Liverpool in 2003. Career record: 70 caps and 24 goals for Senegal; club career at R.C. Lens, Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Senegal · 2002–24 · CB
- Almanac rating
- 89
- Rank in Senegal
- #2 of 33
- Caps
- 103 · 2 goals
- Clubs
- K.R.C. Genk, SSC Napoli, Al Hilal SFC
Two minutes after Moisés Caicedo levelled for Ecuador on 29 November 2022, Koulibaly answered with a volley that carried Senegal into a World Cup last sixteen for the first time since 2002. He was the captain who lifted Senegal's first Africa Cup of Nations in 2022, won the Coppa Italia with Napoli in 2020 and the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal in 2024, and made the Serie A Team of the Year four seasons running. Career record: 103 caps and 2 goals for Senegal; club career at K.R.C. Genk, SSC Napoli, Al Hilal SFC.
The verdict
The almanac puts Kalidou Koulibaly ahead by 1 rating point, 89 against 88.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.