Ronaldinho vs Lothar Matthäus
Brazil against Germany. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Ronaldinho
Brazil · 1999–2013 · LM
- Almanac rating
- 96
- Rank in Brazil
- #3 of 33
- Caps
- 97 · 33 goals
- Clubs
- Grêmio FBPA, FC Barcelona, AC Milan
- Honours
- Ballon d'Or 2005 · FIFA World Player of the Year 2004 · South American Footballer of the Year 2013
Twice at the Bernabéu on 19 November 2005 he cut in from the left and scored in a 3-0 win, and at the final whistle the crowd rose to applaud him, an honour Madrid had given no Barcelona player since Maradona. He won the 2002 World Cup, the 2006 Champions League, La Liga in 2005 and 2006, the Ballon d'Or in 2005, FIFA's world player award in 2004 and 2005, and the Copa Libertadores with Atlético Mineiro in 2013. Career record: 97 caps and 33 goals for Brazil; club career at Grêmio FBPA, FC Barcelona, AC Milan; honours include Ballon d'Or 2005, FIFA World Player of the Year 2004, South American Footballer of the Year 2013.
Lothar Matthäus
Germany · 1980–91 · CM
- Almanac rating
- 94
- Rank in Germany
- #4 of 33
- Caps
- 150 · 23 goals
- Clubs
- Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC Bayern Munich, Inter Milan
- Honours
- Ballon d'Or · 2× national Player of the Year (1990–1999) · 3× Hall of Fame (2018–2018)
Taking the ball from Augenthaler inside his own half at the San Siro on 10 June 1990, he carried it through the Yugoslav midfield, stepped past Davor Jozic and struck it from 25 metres. That summer he lifted the World Cup as captain in Rome, then took the Ballon d'Or and became the first FIFA World Player of the Year in 1991, on top of Euro 1980, the 1991 UEFA Cup, seven Bundesliga titles and 150 caps for Germany. Career record: 150 caps and 23 goals for Germany; club career at Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC Bayern Munich, Inter Milan; honours include Ballon d'Or, 2× national Player of the Year (1990–1999), 3× Hall of Fame (2018–2018).
The verdict
The almanac puts Ronaldinho ahead by 2 rating points, 96 against 94.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.