Fernando Redondo vs Michael Essien
Argentina against Ghana. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Fernando Redondo
Argentina · 1992–99 · CDM
- Almanac rating
- 90
- Rank in Argentina
- #10 of 33
- Caps
- 29 · 1 goals
- Clubs
- C.D. Tenerife, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, AC Milan
At Old Trafford on 19 April 2000 he carried the ball into the left corner, back-heeled it through Henning Berg's legs, ran onto it himself and squared for Raúl to make it 3-0. Redondo won the European Cup with Real Madrid in 1998 and 2000 and again with Milan in 2003, took La Liga in 1995 and 1997, lifted the 1993 Copa América, and was voted UEFA's club footballer of the year in 2000. Career record: 29 caps and 1 goals for Argentina; club career at C.D. Tenerife, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, AC Milan.
Michael Essien
Ghana · 2005–12 · CDM
- Almanac rating
- 90
- Rank in Ghana
- #1 of 33
- Caps
- 59 · 9 goals
- Clubs
- SC Bastia, Olympique Lyonnais, Chelsea
Nine minutes into the semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge on 6 May 2009, a Barcelona clearance dropped to Essien 25 yards out and he volleyed it in off the underside of the bar. He won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012, two Premier League titles and four FA Cups there, back-to-back Ligue 1 titles at Lyon, and took Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 2005 and BBC African Footballer of the Year in 2006. Career record: 59 caps and 9 goals for Ghana; club career at SC Bastia, Olympique Lyonnais, Chelsea.
The verdict
The almanac cannot separate them: both are rated 90.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.