1. Overview
Mouhamadou Habibou "Habib" Diallo is a professional footballer from Senegal who plays as a forward. He currently plays for Saudi Pro League side Damac on loan from Al-Shabab, and also represents the Senegal national team. Born on June 18, 1995, in Thiès, Senegal, Diallo's career has seen him achieve significant success, including winning the Ligue 2 title with Metz and the Africa Cup of Nations with the Senegal national team.
2. Early life and background
Mouhamadou Habibou Diallo, often known simply as Habib Diallo, was born on June 18, 1995, in Thiès, Senegal. Standing at 73 in (185 cm), he began his football journey in his home country before moving to France to pursue his professional career. He is known for his right-footed play.
3. Club career
Diallo's professional club career began in France, where he rose through the ranks at FC Metz before moving to other clubs and eventually to the Saudi Pro League.
3.1. Metz
In the summer of 2015, Diallo was promoted to the senior team of FC Metz. During his debut season with the club, he played 17 games and scored 9 goals. In the 2016-17 Ligue 1 season, he made 19 appearances, scoring once. In January 2017, Diallo was loaned to Brest for the remainder of the season, where he had a successful spell, playing 16 times and scoring 7 goals. He returned to Brest on loan in the summer of 2017 under manager Jean-Marc Furlan. He spent the entire season there, contributing 9 goals in 34 Ligue 2 games, helping Brest finish 5th in the league.
After returning from his loan spells, Diallo enjoyed a highly prolific season with Metz during the 2018-19 Ligue 2 campaign. He played 37 league games, scoring an impressive 26 goals, which was instrumental in Metz winning the Ligue 2 title. His goal tally was only surpassed by Gaëtan Charbonnier, who scored 27 goals for Diallo's former loan club, Brest. For his outstanding performance, Diallo was included in the UNFP Ligue 2 Team of the Season for the 2018-19 season, alongside six of his Metz teammates. He was also named the UNFP Ligue 2 Player of the Month in August 2018.
Diallo quickly adapted to life in Ligue 1 upon Metz's promotion, scoring 6 goals in his first 8 matches. In the January 2020 transfer window, he attracted interest and a reported bid from Premier League club Chelsea, though no transfer materialized. By the time Ligue 1 was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Diallo had scored 12 goals, with Metz positioned 15th in the table. He continued to play for Metz at the beginning of the 2020-21 season, making 4 appearances before his transfer.
3.2. Strasbourg
On October 5, 2020, Diallo officially joined Strasbourg on a five-year contract. He continued his strong performance in Ligue 1 with Strasbourg, becoming a key player for the club. He completed 32 appearances and scored 9 goals in the 2020-21 season. In the 2021-22 season, he further improved his goal-scoring record with 11 goals in 31 league appearances, along with 1 goal in 2 cup matches. His final season with Strasbourg, 2022-23, was particularly successful as he scored 20 goals in 37 Ligue 1 matches, making him the top scorer for the club.
3.3. Al-Shabab and Damac
On August 14, 2023, Diallo made a significant move to Al-Shabab, a club in the Saudi Pro League, for a club-record fee of 20.00 M EUR. He played 30 matches for Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League during the 2023-24 season, scoring 6 goals, and also made 3 appearances in the King's Cup. On August 26, 2024, Diallo joined fellow Saudi Pro League club Damac on a loan deal. As of December 2024, he has played 12 matches for Damac, scoring 4 goals, and made 1 appearance in the King's Cup.
4. International career
Diallo represents the Senegal national team. He made his senior international debut for Senegal on November 17, 2018, in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Equatorial Guinea. He came on as a 55th-minute substitute for M'Baye Niang.
Diallo was a crucial member of Senegal's squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. The "Lions of Teranga" went on to win the tournament for the first time in their history, marking a historic achievement for Senegalese football. Following the nation's victory at the tournament, Diallo was appointed a Grand Officer of the National Order of the Lion in 2022 by President of Senegal Macky Sall, recognizing his contribution to the national success. In December 2023, Diallo was again named in Senegal's squad for the postponed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held in the Ivory Coast.
5. Career statistics
This section provides a detailed numerical breakdown of Mouhamadou Habibou Diallo's appearances and goals in both club and international competitions throughout his career.
5.1. Club statistics
The table below details Diallo's seasonal appearances and goal-scoring records for each club he has played for, as of December 5, 2024.
| Club | Season | League | National cup (incl. Coupe de France, King's Cup) | League cup (incl. Coupe de la Ligue) | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Metz B | 2013-14 | CFA 2 | 5 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2014-15 | CFA | 18 | 1 | - | - | 18 | 1 | |||
| 2015-16 | CFA 2 | 5 | 2 | - | - | 5 | 2 | |||
| 2016-17 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 29 | 4 | - | - | 29 | 4 | ||||
| Metz | 2015-16 | Ligue 2 | 17 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 9 |
| 2016-17 | Ligue 1 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 1 | |
| 2017-18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2018-19 | Ligue 2 | 37 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 26 | |
| 2019-20 | Ligue 1 | 26 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 12 | |
| 2020-21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | |||
| Total | 104 | 48 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 115 | 48 | ||
| Brest (loan) | 2016-17 | Ligue 2 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 7 |
| 2017-18 | 34 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 11 | ||
| Total | 50 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 18 | ||
| Strasbourg | 2020-21 | Ligue 1 | 32 | 9 | 0 | 0 | - | 32 | 9 | |
| 2021-22 | 31 | 11 | 2 | 1 | - | 33 | 12 | |||
| 2022-23 | 37 | 20 | 1 | 0 | - | 38 | 20 | |||
| Total | 100 | 40 | 3 | 1 | - | 103 | 41 | |||
| Al-Shabab | 2023-24 | Saudi Pro League | 30 | 6 | 3 | 0 | - | 33 | 6 | |
| Damac (loan) | 2024-25 | Saudi Pro League | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | - | 13 | 4 | |
| Career total | 309 | 116 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 326 | 119 | ||
5.2. International goals
The following table lists the goals scored by Habib Diallo for the Senegal national team. Scores and results list Senegal's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 13 November 2019 | Stade Lat-Dior, Thiès, Senegal | Congo | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 2. | 11 November 2021 | Stade de Kégué, Lomé, Togo | Togo | 1-1 | 1-1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3. | 24 March 2023 | Diamniadio Olympic Stadium, Dakar, Senegal | Mozambique | 5-1 | 5-1 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 4. | 20 June 2023 | Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal | Brazil | 1-1 | 4-2 | Friendly |
| 5. | 19 January 2024 | Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast | Cameroon | 2-0 | 3-1 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 6. | 29 January 2024 | Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukr, Ivory Coast | Ivory Coast | 1-0 | 1-1 (lost 4-5 on penalties) | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 7. | 9 June 2024 | Stade Cheikha Ould Boïdiya, Nouakchott, Mauritania | Mauritania | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
6. Honours
Habib Diallo has received several significant awards and titles throughout his career, both as an individual and as part of a team.
6.1. Club honours
- Metz
- Ligue 2: 2018-19
6.2. International honours
- Senegal
- Africa Cup of Nations: 2021
6.3. Individual honours
- UNFP Ligue 2 Team of the Season: 2018-19
- UNFP Ligue 2 Player of the Month: August 2018
7. Tributes and recognition
Following Senegal's historic victory at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Diallo was appointed a Grand Officer of the National Order of the Lion in 2022 by Macky Sall, the President of Senegal. This high national honor recognized his and the team's significant achievement for the country.