'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 El-Hadji Diouf
One of the breakout stars of the 2002 World Cup, practically nobody had heard of Senegalese striker El-Hadji Diouf before the tournament in Japan and South Korea, but some stirring performances – most notably a Man of the Match showing as Senegal upset holders France in the opening match – meant that as soon as the World Cup was over, he was hot property.
In the end, it was Liverpool who secured the colourful striker’s signature, splashing out £10m to bring him to Merseyside from Lens.
And at first, it looked like the move would pay off for both parties – Diouf scored twice on his Anfield debut as the Reds defeated Southampton 3-0. Unfortunately, Liverpool fans then had to wait a stunning seven months for his next goal.
Diouf was clearly not quite up to the Premier League pace, and his reputation only plummeted further when he was banned for two matches for spitting in the face of a Celtic supporter during a UEFA Cup tie. The Senegal striker then went goalless for the remainder of 2002/03 – and failed to find the target in 2003/04 as well before being exiled to Bolton Wanderers.
In a total condemnation of the striker, Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher later described Diouf as having “one of the worst strike rates in Liverpool history – he’s the only No. 9 to ever go through a full season without scoring”. It was a far cry from what people expected when they saw his World Cup performances.
