Li Tie vs Zheng Zhi
China against China. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Li Tie
China · 2002–24 · CDM
- Almanac rating
- 81
- Rank in China
- #7 of 33
- Caps
- 92 · 6 goals
- Clubs
- Liaoning, Everton, Chengdu Tiancheng
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.
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 3 rating points, 84 against 81.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.