Elías Figueroa vs Francisco Valdés
Chile against Chile. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Elías Figueroa
Chile · 1974–78 · CB
- Almanac rating
- 92
- Rank in Chile
- #1 of 33
- Caps
- 47 · 2 goals
- Clubs
- Club Atlético Peñarol, S.C. Internacional, C.D. Palestino
On 14 December 1975 at the Beira-Rio, sunlight broke through the cloud as he rose above Cruzeiro's defenders to head in Valdomiro's cross, the only goal of the final and the one Brazilians call the Gol Iluminado. South American Footballer of the Year in 1974, 1975 and 1976, he won Brazilian championships in 1975 and 1976, Uruguayan titles with Peñarol, the Chilean league with Palestino in 1978, and a place in the 1974 World Cup all-star team. Career record: 47 caps and 2 goals for Chile; club career at Club Atlético Peñarol, S.C. Internacional, C.D. Palestino.
Francisco Valdés
Chile · 1973–2020 · CM
- Almanac rating
- 87
- Rank in Chile
- #10 of 33
- Caps
- 52 · 9 goals
- Clubs
- Club Social y Deportivo Colo Colo, Unión Española, Cobreloa
On 21 November 1973 he kicked off against nobody at the Estadio Nacional, walked the ball upfield with his team-mates and rolled it into an empty net, the Soviet Union having refused to play there. Colo-Colo reached the 1973 Copa Libertadores final with him running the midfield, the first final for a Chilean club, and he left the game with two Chilean championships, a Copa Chile and 215 league goals, the most in Chilean history until 2020. Career record: 52 caps and 9 goals for Chile; club career at Club Social y Deportivo Colo Colo, Unión Española, Cobreloa.
The verdict
The almanac puts Elías Figueroa ahead by 5 rating points, 92 against 87.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.