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Papa Bouba Diop (born January 28, 1978 in Dakar) is a Senegalese footballer, who currently plays for the Senegal national football team, where he is currently the captain, and Fulham.

Diop started his career playing for two Dakar clubs, before moving away to Switzerland, where he played for three clubs including the famous Grasshoppers Zurich. He shot to fame after scoring the first goal in the 2002 FIFA World Cup against France in the Lions shock 1-0 win on the opening day. He followed that goal up by scoring another two against Uruguay.

He joined Fulham from RC Lens for an undisclosed fee, believed to be £2million, in July 2004. In his first season at Fulham, he scored brilliant long-range goals against Manchester United and local rivals Chelsea F.C., as well as a crucial last-gasp header to win a match against WBA. He has been almost incessantly linked with lucrative moves to Manchester United and Arsenal F.C.. In recent times however the player has suffered form injuries which have limited his chances of first team football and seen him drop down the pecking order at Craven Cottage. On the 22nd January 2007, Diop has been subject to a £5 million bid from Wigan Athletic, which Fulham are believed to have accepted. However, Diop decided against the move and is set to remain at Fulham. Chris Coleman has accepted the player's decision and has said that he must now fight for a regular place in the team. He managed to gain a first team place again when Niemi injured himself in the warm up so Lastuvka had to replaced him. This earned Bouba Diop a place on the bench. He was substituted on and set up a goal in his first match back. He is now really giving it his all to stay in the first team.

Certainly the many Fulham fans who have been impressed by his work rate, skill and commitment would like to see him remain at the club. Diop is famous for having an extremely powerful long-range shot, as demonstrated against Chelsea and Manchester United, among others.

He is nicknamed 'The Wardrobe' by his team mates at Fulham due to his enormous dimensions, although it is unknown whether his French-speaking Senegal team mates know him by the literal translation of the word 'Armoire'. He is also less commonly known as Bubba after the character from the movie Forrest Gump.

• Weight: 94 kg (207 lb)
• Position: Midfielder
• Fulham Debut: vs. Manchester City at City of Manchester Stadium, 14/08/04.

• Papa Bouba Diop career stats at Soccerbase
• Profile, stats and pictures of Bouba Diop

	Senegal squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup Quarter-finalists
1 Sylva | 2 Daf | 3 Sarr | 4 Malick Diop | 5 N'Dour | 6 Cissé | 7 H. Camara | 8 Traoré | 9 S. Camara | 10 Fadiga | 11 Diouf | 12 Faye | 13 Diatta | 14 Moussa N'Diaye | 15 Diao | 16 Diallo | 17 Coly | 18 Thiaw | 19 Bouba Diop | 20 S. N'Diaye | 21 Beye | 22 Cissokho | 23 Makhtar N'Diaye | Coach: Metsu