Salif Diao

Monaco

Diao was born in Kédougou, Tambacounda Region. He began his career in his native country before moving to France at the age of seventeen. He begin his professional career playing for Monaco in 1996, but did not feature for the club at all in the 1996–1997 season and was loaned out the Ligue 2 side Épinal, where he played two matches for the club. He returned to Monaco for the 1997–98 season, where he played 12 times in his second season at the club. He was also part of the Monaco side that won Division 1 in the 1999–2000 season. He also won a runner-up medal in the 2002 African Cup of Nations, where Senegal lost in extra time to Cameroon.

Sedan Ardennes

In 2001, he signed for Sedan. He played 32 games in all competitions in his first season at Sedan in the 2001–02 season, including three matches in the UEFA Cup. He made his first start of the on 28 July 2001 in their 1–1 draw away at Bastia. He made 22 appearances for Sedan in his second season at the club, with an extra two games in the UEFA Cup. His last game for Sedan came in their 1–1 draw with Lorient on 6 April 2002, before joining English club Liverpool.

Liverpool

He was signed by former Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier from French club Sedan for £5 million (€7.5m) just before the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. He helped Senegal reach the quarter-finals, most notably in scoring a memorable goal against Denmark in the first round, although he was subsequently red-carded. At…

Diao has appeared 39 times for Senegal, scoring four goals in the process since 2000, including a strike against Denmark at the 2002 FIFA World Cup after a series of quick passes by his teammates to set him up. He was later sent off in the same match for a high tackle. Diao was in the Senegal squad that went to the 2002 African Cup of Nations where Senegal finished second after losing in the final to Cameroon and was part of the Senegal side that went to the 2004 African Cup of Nations. He was also in the side that reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup and played games including their 1–0 win over then current champions France, as well as scoring in their 1–1 draw with Denmark before being sent off which meant he missed their next two games but returned for their quarter final exit to Turkey. He has also been involved in Senegal's qualification campaigns for the past three World Cups in 2002, 2006 and 2010. After Senegal failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup Senegal fans went on a rampage, Diao, along with Stoke City team-mates Abdoulaye Faye and Ibrahima Sonko, were caught up in crowd trouble in Dakar.

Club

International

Scores and results list Senegal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Diao goal.

Diao a founder of non-profit organisation, Sport4Charity. He is also involved with Caap-Afrika.