Daniel Passarella vs Obdulio Varela
Argentina against Uruguay. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Daniel Passarella
Argentina · 1978–86 · CB
- Almanac rating
- 93
- Rank in Argentina
- #4 of 33
- Caps
- 70 · 22 goals
- Clubs
- Club Atlético River Plate, ACF Fiorentina, Inter Milan
When Argentina beat the Netherlands at the Monumental on 25 June 1978, the trophy went into his hands before anyone else's, and he finished a centre-back career with 134 goals in 451 matches. World champion as captain in 1978 and part of the winning squad in 1986, he took seven league titles with River Plate and scored freely from set pieces in Serie A for Fiorentina and Inter. Career record: 70 caps and 22 goals for Argentina; club career at Club Atlético River Plate, ACF Fiorentina, Inter Milan.
Obdulio Varela
Uruguay · 1942–50 · CB
- Almanac rating
- 91
- Rank in Uruguay
- #8 of 33
- Caps
- 45 · 9 goals
- Clubs
- Montevideo Wanderers Fútbol Club, Club Atlético Peñarol
After Friaça put Brazil ahead at the Maracanã on 16 July 1950, Varela tucked the ball under his arm and walked to referee George Reader to argue an offside he later admitted never existed, buying the minutes it took the stadium to fall silent. Uruguay won that final 2-1, and El Negro Jefe had already been named best player of the 1942 South American Championship, adding six Uruguayan titles with Peñarol. Career record: 45 caps and 9 goals for Uruguay; club career at Montevideo Wanderers Fútbol Club, Club Atlético Peñarol.
The verdict
The almanac puts Daniel Passarella ahead by 2 rating points, 93 against 91.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.