Gu Guangming vs Zheng Zhi
China against China. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Gu Guangming
China · 1979–87 · CAM
- Almanac rating
- 82
- Rank in China
- #5 of 33
- Caps
- 7
- Clubs
- Guangdong Hongyuan, TuS Koblenz, SV Darmstadt 98
They called him the Weatherfish, for the way he wriggled out of corners where there was no room left, and in 1987 he carried that to Darmstadt 98 and 107 league games across five seasons in the 2. Bundesliga. Runner-up at the 1984 Asian Cup and third in 1980, AFC All-Star in 1985, a Chinese league title with Guangdong in 1979, and 50 caps with 12 goals. Career record: 7 caps for China; club career at Guangdong Hongyuan, TuS Koblenz, SV Darmstadt 98.
Zheng Zhi
China · 2004–13 · CB
- Almanac rating
- 84
- Rank in China
- #2 of 33
- Caps
- 76 · 15 goals
- Clubs
- Shenzhen, Shandong Taishan, Guangzhou
Tianhe Stadium, 9 November 2013: 1-1 with FC Seoul, 3-3 on aggregate, away goals, and Zheng Zhi lifting the first AFC Champions League a Chinese club had ever won. Asian Footballer of the Year that same season, ten league titles across three clubs, 108 caps for China, a place in the 2004 Asian Cup Team of the Tournament, and two seasons at Charlton in between. Career record: 76 caps and 15 goals for China; club career at Shenzhen, Shandong Taishan, Guangzhou.
The verdict
The almanac puts Zheng Zhi ahead by 2 rating points, 84 against 82.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.