El Hadji Diouf vs Pape Bouba Diop
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.
Pape Bouba Diop
Senegal · 2002–08 · CDM
- Almanac rating
- 84
- Rank in Senegal
- #9 of 33
- Caps
- 63 · 11 goals
- Clubs
- Neuchâtel Xamax FCS, Fulham, Portsmouth
Thirty minutes into the 2002 World Cup opener in Seoul, he forced the loose ball past France after Diouf's low cross, then laid his number 19 shirt by the corner flag and danced around it. Three goals made him Senegal's top scorer at a World Cup that ended in the quarter-finals, and he was an Africa Cup of Nations runner-up months earlier; he later came off the bench in Portsmouth's 2008 FA Cup final win. Career record: 63 caps and 11 goals for Senegal; club career at Neuchâtel Xamax FCS, Fulham, Portsmouth.
The verdict
The almanac puts El Hadji Diouf ahead by 4 rating points, 88 against 84.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.