33·Legends

Francisco Valdés vs Marcelo Salas

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

FV

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.

vs
MS

Marcelo Salas

Chile · 1998–2000 · ST

Almanac rating
89
Rank in Chile
#7 of 33
Caps
70 · 37 goals
Clubs
Club Universidad de Chile, Club Atlético River Plate, SS Lazio

Sierra's long ball came down on his thigh at Wembley in February 1998, and the volley that followed beat Nigel Martyn before he added a penalty in a 2-0 win over England. In France that summer he scored four times, and the honours run to Serie A and the Coppa Italia with Lazio in 2000, two Scudetti at Juventus, four Argentine titles at River Plate and 37 goals for Chile, a record until Alexis Sánchez broke it. Career record: 70 caps and 37 goals for Chile; club career at Club Universidad de Chile, Club Atlético River Plate, SS Lazio.

The verdict

The almanac puts Marcelo Salas ahead by 2 rating points, 89 against 87.

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