Falcão vs Gianni Rivera
Brazil against Italy. 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.
Gianni Rivera
Italy · 1960s · CM
- Almanac rating
- 93
- Rank in Italy
- #13 of 33
- Caps
- 63 · 15 goals
- Clubs
- US Alessandria Calcio 1912, AC Milan
- Honours
- Ballon d'Or
The Golden Boy of Italian football, Rivera was a sublime attacking midfielder whose elegance and goalscoring flair earned him the Ballon d'Or in 1969 and a European Cup with AC Milan. Career record: 63 caps and 15 goals for Italy; club career at US Alessandria Calcio 1912, AC Milan; honours include Ballon d'Or.
The verdict
The almanac cannot separate them: both are rated 93.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.