China against China. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
China · 1997–2004 · CM
His first season at Dalian in 1997 ended with the league title and both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball, and the nickname that stuck was the Chinese Alan Shearer. He remains China's record international scorer from 106 caps, with five league titles at Dalian, a title and a cup earlier at Bayi, three Jia-A top-scorer awards in 1997, 1998 and 2001, Footballer of the Year in 1998 and silver at the 2004 Asian Cup. Career record: 106 caps and 41 goals for China; club career at Bayi Football Team, Dalian Shide, Sheffield United.
China · 2002–24 · CDM
He started all three group games at the 2002 World Cup, still China's only appearance at the tournament, and spent that same season at Everton, where David Moyes used him 29 times in the Premier League. Ninety-two caps, that World Cup, a China League One title with Liaoning Whowin in 2009 and a seventh-place Everton finish make up the playing record; a 2024 conviction for bribery and match-fixing brought a 20-year sentence and a lifetime ban. Career record: 92 caps and 6 goals for China; club career at Liaoning, Everton, Chengdu Tiancheng.
The almanac puts Hao Haidong ahead by 2 rating points, 83 against 81.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.