Mathew Ryan vs Tim Cahill
Australia against Australia. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
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.
Tim Cahill
Australia · 2004–15 · CM
- Almanac rating
- 89
- Rank in Australia
- #2 of 33
- Caps
- 108 · 50 goals
- Clubs
- Millwall, Everton, New York Red Bulls
- Honours
- Hall of Fame 2021
Australia had never scored at a World Cup until 12 June 2006, when he forced one in against Japan with six minutes left, struck a second four minutes later and turned a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 win. The 2015 Asian Cup came at home, and he finished as Australia's record scorer with 50 goals in 108 caps, five at World Cups, plus 56 Premier League goals for Everton and a 2004 FA Cup final with Millwall. Career record: 108 caps and 50 goals for Australia; club career at Millwall, Everton, New York Red Bulls; honours include Hall of Fame 2021.
The verdict
The almanac puts Tim Cahill ahead by 5 rating points, 89 against 84.
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