Elías Figueroa vs José Santamaría
Chile against Uruguay. 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.
José Santamaría
Uruguay · 1954–66 · CB
- Almanac rating
- 91
- Rank in Uruguay
- #7 of 33
- Caps
- 20 · 0 goals
- Clubs
- Club Nacional de Football, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol
Madrid's press called him El Muro, and he earned it across 337 matches for the club, having already done the rare thing of playing a World Cup for Uruguay in 1954 and another for Spain in 1962. He won four European Cups with Real Madrid in 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1966, six Spanish league titles, the 1960 Intercontinental Cup and a Copa del Generalísimo. Career record: 20 caps and 0 goals for Uruguay; club career at Club Nacional de Football, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol.
The verdict
The almanac puts Elías Figueroa ahead by 1 rating point, 92 against 91.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.