Garrincha vs Mohamed Salah
Brazil against Egypt. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Garrincha
Brazil · 1958–66 · RM
- Almanac rating
- 97
- Rank in Brazil
- #2 of 33
- Caps
- 50 · 17 goals
- Clubs
- Botafogo F.R., Associação Atlética Portuguesa, Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
Brazil called him Alegria do Povo, and on 10 June 1962, with Pelé injured and watching, he took the quarter-final against England apart himself, heading in Zagallo's corner and then curling a second past Ron Springett. He won the World Cup in 1958 and 1962, took the Golden Ball and a share of the Golden Boot in Chile, and lost only one of his 50 matches for Brazil, his last, against Hungary in 1966. Career record: 50 caps and 17 goals for Brazil; club career at Botafogo F.R., Associação Atlética Portuguesa, Clube de Regatas do Flamengo.
Mohamed Salah
Egypt · 2017–25 · RM
- Almanac rating
- 93
- Rank in Egypt
- #1 of 33
- Caps
- 115 · 67 goals
- Clubs
- Al Mokawloon Al Arab SC, FC Basel, Liverpool
- Honours
- The Best FIFA award 2018 · 2× African Footballer of the Year (2017–2017) · Golden Boot 2018
His first season at Liverpool ended with 32 league goals in 38 games, still the most anyone has managed in a 38-match Premier League season. The Champions League followed a year later, opened by his penalty inside two minutes of the final against Tottenham; two Premier League titles in 2020 and 2025, four Golden Boots, the Club World Cup and African Footballer of the Year in both 2017 and 2018 sit beside it. Career record: 115 caps and 67 goals for Egypt; club career at Al Mokawloon Al Arab SC, FC Basel, Liverpool; honours include The Best FIFA award 2018, 2× African Footballer of the Year (2017–2017), Golden Boot 2018.
The verdict
The almanac puts Garrincha ahead by 4 rating points, 97 against 93.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.