Lucas Neill vs Mathew Ryan
Australia against Australia. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Lucas Neill
Australia · 2002–11 · CB
- Almanac rating
- 84
- Rank in Australia
- #7 of 33
- Caps
- 96 · 1 goals
- Clubs
- Millwall, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United
In the last seconds against Italy at Kaiserslautern on 26 June 2006, Neill slid across in front of Fabio Grosso, Grosso went over the top of him, and Totti converted the penalty that put Australia out. He captained his country a record 61 times in 96 caps, led the side at the 2010 World Cup and to the 2011 Asian Cup final, and was part of the Blackburn squad that won the League Cup in 2002. Career record: 96 caps and 1 goals for Australia; club career at Millwall, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United.
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 cannot separate them: both are rated 84.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.