33·Legends

Nílton Santos vs Nuno Mendes

Brazil against Portugal. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.

NS

Nílton Santos

Brazil · 1949–58 · LB

Almanac rating
93
Rank in Brazil
#11 of 33
Caps
75 · 3 goals
Clubs
Botafogo F.R.

Against Austria on 8 June 1958 he carried the ball out of his own half with Feola screaming at him to get back, ignored him all the way, and scored the second in a 3-0 win in Brazil's opening match. He won that World Cup and the next one in Chile, added the 1949 South American title, made the 1958 all-star eleven, won four Carioca championships and never once played for a club other than Botafogo. Career record: 75 caps and 3 goals for Brazil; club career at Botafogo F.R..

vs
NM

Nuno Mendes

Portugal · 2020–26 · LB

Almanac rating
90
Rank in Portugal
#11 of 33

Portugal leaned on him in the Munich final of the 2025 Nations League: he scored the equaliser against Spain, stayed with Lamine Yamal down that flank all night, and buried his kick in the shootout. That Nations League title sits beside back to back Champions League wins with Paris Saint-Germain in 2025 and 2026, five Ligue 1 titles, two Coupes de France, and the Primeira Liga he won as a teenager at Sporting.

The verdict

The almanac puts Nílton Santos ahead by 3 rating points, 93 against 90.

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