Kalidou Koulibaly
Kalidou Koulibaly is Senegal’s captain and an Al-Hilal centre-back who shares his football journey and speaks out against racism.
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Latest
Kalidou’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
- Al-Hilal’s win over Manchester City2025 · Extra-time goalscorer at the Club World Cup
Al-Hilal - Senegal’s first Africa Cup of Nations title2022 · Captain, AFCON 2021 champions
Senegal - Eight seasons at Napoli2014 to 2022 · Centre-back
Napoli - We Are All Brothers2019 · Personal essay on identity and racism
The Players’ Tribune
Overview
- Born
- 20 June 1991, Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France
- Known for
- Centre-back for Al-Hilal and captain of Senegal
- First senior club
- Metz, 2010
- Breakout
- Eight seasons at Napoli, 2014 to 2022
Mini bio
How it started.
Born in France to Senegalese parents, Kalidou grew up in Saint-Dié. He traces his love of football to playing barefoot with cousins during a childhood visit to Senegal. His club journey took him from hometown side SR Saint-Dié to Metz’s youth setup, then the senior team in 2010.
Finding his stage.
He moved to Genk in 2012 and won the Belgian Cup the following year. Napoli became his home from 2014 to 2022. Working under Maurizio Sarri helped develop his play on the ball, and he won Serie A’s best defender award for 2018/19.
Leading Senegal.
After playing youth football for France, he made his senior Senegal debut in 2015. He captained Senegal to their first AFCON title in the tournament played in 2022, scoring in the final’s penalty shootout against Egypt.
Football and giving back.
A season at Chelsea preceded his 2023 move to Al-Hilal. He helped the Saudi club win a domestic treble in 2023/24 and extended his contract to 2027. Away from matches, he has spoken about his M’Barodi academy project in Senegal and uses his own writing to challenge racism.
Creditschronological, newest first
Club football
International football
- 2015 to presentSenegalDefender and national-team captain
Writing
- 2019We Are All BrothersAuthor, The Players’ Tribune
Awards
- Saudi domestic treble2023/24 · Saudi Pro League, King’s Cup and Saudi Super Cup with Al-Hilal.
- Africa Cup of Nations championAFCON 2021, played in 2022 · Captain of Senegal’s first title-winning team.
- Serie A best defender2018/19 · Awarded by Lega Serie A while playing for Napoli.
- Belgian Cup winner2013 · Won with Genk.
Quotes
There are three things in this world that you cannot buy anywhere: friendship, family, and serenity.Kalidou Koulibaly, The Players’ Tribune
From his June 2019 essay about his upbringing, family, Napoli and experiences of racism.
Trivia
- He twice hung up on Rafa Benítez during Napoli’s approach because he thought a friend was playing a prank, as he recalls in his Players’ Tribune essay.
- In Chelsea’s World Cup interview, he remembered owning a Senegal shirt with Salif Diao’s name as a child.
- He represented France at the 2011 Under-20 World Cup before choosing Senegal for his senior international career.
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