Elías Figueroa vs Leonel Sánchez
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.
Leonel Sánchez
Chile · 1960s · LM
- Almanac rating
- 89
- Rank in Chile
- #6 of 33
- Caps
- 85 · 24 goals
- Clubs
- Club Universidad de Chile, Club Social y Deportivo Colo Colo, C.D. Palestino
His free kick from the left in the 1962 quarter-final at Arica lifted over the wall and dropped past Lev Yashin, and the Soviet Union were out of the World Cup. Four goals made him a joint top scorer of that tournament, the only Chilean to top a World Cup scoring list, and he finished third on home soil, won six Chilean titles with the Ballet Azul at Universidad de Chile and held the caps record for decades. Career record: 85 caps and 24 goals for Chile; club career at Club Universidad de Chile, Club Social y Deportivo Colo Colo, C.D. Palestino.
The verdict
The almanac puts Elías Figueroa ahead by 3 rating points, 92 against 89.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.