Brett Emerton vs Mathew Ryan
Australia against Australia. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Brett Emerton
Australia · 2000–04 · CM
- Almanac rating
- 83
- Rank in Australia
- #10 of 33
- Caps
- 95 · 20 goals
- Clubs
- Feyenoord Rotterdam, Blackburn Rovers, Sydney
The Olyroos went into their home Olympics in Sydney in September 2000 with Emerton, 21, wearing the armband. The UEFA Cup came in 2002, a booking against Inter keeping him out of the final Feyenoord won in their own stadium, and he added OFC Nations Cups in 2000 and 2004, Oceania Footballer of the Year in 2002, eight seasons at Blackburn and 95 caps with 20 goals. Career record: 95 caps and 20 goals for Australia; club career at Feyenoord Rotterdam, Blackburn Rovers, Sydney.
Mathew Ryan
Australia · 2013–25 · GK
- Almanac rating
- 84
- Rank in Australia
- #9 of 33
- Caps
- 101 · 0 goals
- Clubs
- Central Coast Mariners, Club Brugge K.V., Brighton & Hove Albion
Ryan was winning his hundredth cap in Jeddah on 10 June 2025 when he beat out Salem Al-Dawsari's penalty in the 84th minute, and Australia held on to win 2-1 and reach a sixth straight World Cup. He won the 2015 Asian Cup at home and its Golden Glove, the Belgian Cup with Club Brugge, the A-League double with Central Coast in 2013, and kept two clean sheets in Qatar, a Socceroos record at a World Cup. Career record: 101 caps and 0 goals for Australia; club career at Central Coast Mariners, Club Brugge K.V., Brighton & Hove Albion.
The verdict
The almanac puts Mathew Ryan ahead by 1 rating point, 84 against 83.
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