Kalidou Koulibaly vs Pape Bouba Diop
Senegal against Senegal. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
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.
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 Kalidou Koulibaly ahead by 5 rating points, 89 against 84.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.