World Player of the Week: Moussa Konate - Senegal

Jul 30, 2012 12:00:00 PM

World Player of the Week

Moussa Konate
AGE	19
POSITION	Striker
FOR	Senegal
WEEK IN NUMBERS
APPS (GOALS SCORED)	2 (3)
TIME ON PITCH	172
PREVIOUS WINS	0

Senegal	1-1	Team GB
Senegal	2-0	Uruguay

At every Olympic tournament, a young unheralded starlet bursts into the public consciousness. In 1960 it was Florian Albert, in 1972 it was Oleg Blokhin, and at Seoul '88 it was Brazilian legend Romario. In the London Games of 2012, Senegal striker Moussa Konate is threatening to do the same.

The 19-year-old Maccabi Tel Aviv forward enjoyed a phenomenal week to take his country to the cusp of qualifying for the knockout stages of the men's football tournament. Uruguay and Great Britain were the red-hot favourites to progress from Group A, but it now looks likely that one of the duo will be eliminated thanks to Konate.

The teenager's poaching instincts and expert positioning saw him score three goals for the west Africans. The first was on Thursday night when he rained on Team GB's parade by netting a late equaliser. Then, on Sunday, Konate hit a stunning double against Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani's star-studded Uruguay side as first-time Olympic competitors Senegal won 2-0 at Wembley.

Konate is currently joint-first in the Olympic top-scorer rankings with Honduras' Jerry Bengtson, who can feel a little unlucky not to be an honourable mention after sending reigning world and European champions Spain back to Iberia.

Congratulations to Moussa Konate, Goal.com's 167th World Player of the Week winner!

Honourable Mentions

Urby Emanuelson - AC Milan Morale at Milanello is low following the sales of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to PSG, but Dutch midfielder Emanuelson cheered Rossoneri fans up by scoring the goals in the 1-0 friendly wins over Schalke and Chelsea.
Leonardo - Coritiba The 29-year-old journeyman was the star in Brazil's Serie A as Marcelo Oliveira's men won twice in a week against Nautico and high-flyers Gremio. Leonardo scored three goals, including a 90th-minute winner versus Gremio.
Hugo Lloris - Lyon Much like Milan, it has been a far from happy summer at Lyon, but France No.1 Lloris ensured that his club won the Trophee des champions on penalties versus Montpellier with a string of saves, including in the shoot-out.
Neymar - Brazil Two games, two goals and two assists for the wonderkid as Brazil's Olympic team beat Egypt and Belarus to roar into the knockouts at London 2012. With star man Neymar in this kind of form, the Selecao will take some stopping.
Thierry Steinmetz - Dudelange The shock of the week came in the Champions League third qualifying round as Luxembourg's F91 Dudelange stunned Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg on away goals. Steinmetz was the second-leg hero with two goals.

On Sunday, we encouraged our readers to nominate their choices for the best player of the week. Here are some of the comments we received:

Noah Jazz voted for Lionel Messi, who returned from his summer break against Raja Casablanca and picked up his seventh goal in five friendlies in the process.

"Messi should be Goal.com's unopposed player of the week, he scored a hat-trick against Casablanca."

But Kiddu Sinha disagreed with Noah and believes that a Brazilian is worthy of the award.

"Goal.com should give the World Player of Week award to Oscar! He got two goals and two assists against Egypt and Belarus and earned a switch to Chelsea, too."

Vasily from Cyprus agreed that it should be a Brazilian, but he instead plumped for Santos prodigy Neymar.

"Neymar once again showed why he is the most promising youngster in the world by scoring twice and hitting two goals for the Selecao in London. Goal.com should give him their award."

Mo in South Korea will be happy with the eventual outcome, given that he put forward Moussa Konate.

"It has to be given to Moussa! He scored against Team GB on their big debut and also helped the Teranga Lions when they were down to 10 men by scoring with two great headers!"

Dejan of Serbia wanted Japan's match-winner against Spain, Yuki Otsu, to scoop the prize.

"Yuki Otsu should win Goal.com's World Player of the Week, his goal was enough to silence Spain in their Olympic Games opener."

Each week our worldwide team of editors will put forward a selected candidate, as chosen by Goal.com International, who deserves recognition for achieving something special that matchday.

You can also help us choose a worthy recipient of the weekly accolade by leaving your nominations and comments here. Your suggestions will be taken into consideration.

It won't necessarily be the best player in the world - at least not usually - but whoever we crown will have accomplished something amazing. It might be for a particularly awesome performance or for something praiseworthy off the pitch - either way, the person in question deserves special attention...

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