Gabriel Batistuta vs Omar Sívori
Argentina against Argentina. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Gabriel Batistuta
Argentina · 1991–2002 · ST
- Almanac rating
- 91
- Rank in Argentina
- #7 of 33
- Caps
- 78 · 56 goals
- Clubs
- ACF Fiorentina, AS Roma, Al-Arabi SC
Relegation to Serie B in 1993 was the moment other strikers would have left Fiorentina, and he stayed, scored them back up in one season and finished as the club's leading Serie A scorer with 151 goals. No one else has scored World Cup hat-tricks at two tournaments, 1994 and 1998, and he won the Copa América in 1991 and 1993, the Serie A title with Roma in 2001, and held Argentina's scoring record until Messi. Career record: 78 caps and 56 goals for Argentina; club career at ACF Fiorentina, AS Roma, Al-Arabi SC.
Omar Sívori
Argentina · 1956–62 · SS
- Almanac rating
- 92
- Rank in Argentina
- #6 of 33
- Caps
- 19 · 9 goals
- Clubs
- Club Atlético River Plate, Juventus, SSC Napoli
- Honours
- Ballon d'Or 1961
Argentina's 1957 South American Championship was won by a forward line the press called the carasucias, and he was the one playing with his socks rolled down to his ankles, treating the nutmeg as a signature. Juventus paid a world-record fee of 10 million pesos for him that year, and he returned the 1961 Ballon d'Or, three Serie A titles and two Coppa Italia, on top of the three Argentine championships he had already won with River Plate. Career record: 19 caps and 9 goals for Argentina; club career at Club Atlético River Plate, Juventus, SSC Napoli; honours include Ballon d'Or 1961.
The verdict
The almanac puts Omar Sívori ahead by 1 rating point, 92 against 91.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.