Falcão vs Rivaldo
Brazil against Brazil. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Falcão
Brazil · 1982–83 · CM
- Almanac rating
- 93
- Rank in Brazil
- #9 of 33
- Caps
- 28 · 6 goals
- Clubs
- S.C. Internacional, AS Roma, São Paulo
Sarrià, 5 July 1982: Júnior rolled the ball to him twenty yards from Italy's goal and he drove it in with his weaker foot for 2-2, six minutes before Paolo Rossi settled the tie and sent Brazil home. Rome crowned him its eighth king after the 1983 scudetto, and he also took three Brazilian titles with Internacional, two Coppa Italia, and the silver ball as second-best player of the 1982 World Cup. Career record: 28 caps and 6 goals for Brazil; club career at S.C. Internacional, AS Roma, São Paulo.
Rivaldo
Brazil · 1999–2003 · CAM
- Almanac rating
- 94
- Rank in Brazil
- #8 of 33
- Caps
- 74 · 35 goals
- Clubs
- FC Barcelona, Olympiacos, F.C. Bunyodkor
- Honours
- Ballon d'Or 1999 · FIFA World Player of the Year 1999
Three goals on the last day of the 2000/01 season, the third a chested overhead kick in the 87th minute at the Camp Nou on 17 June 2001, put Barcelona into the Champions League and left Valencia out. He won the 2002 World Cup with five goals in Japan and Korea, the Ballon d'Or in 1999, the Copa América in 1999 as its top scorer, two Liga titles with Barcelona and the 2003 Champions League with Milan. Career record: 74 caps and 35 goals for Brazil; club career at FC Barcelona, Olympiacos, F.C. Bunyodkor; honours include Ballon d'Or 1999, FIFA World Player of the Year 1999.
The verdict
The almanac puts Rivaldo ahead by 1 rating point, 94 against 93.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.