China against China. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
China · 1976–2013 · CAM
In 1979 a journalist named Qiu Zhenqi gave Chinese football a phrase of its own, the Zhixing style, coined for a man who went a whole career without a yellow or red card and never argued a referee's decision. Third at the 1976 Asian Cup, bronze at the 1978 Asian Games, a national league title with Guangdong in 1979, three straight years among China's top ten athletes, and the AFC's Golden Star Award in 2013.
China · 1996–2015 · RB
On 26 October 2002 at Birmingham, Sun rose to head Manchester City in front after 24 minutes, the first goal an East Asian player had scored in the Premier League. Four Chinese league titles with Dalian between 1996 and 2001, the 2001 FA Cup, 130 appearances for Manchester City, 80 caps, the 2002 World Cup and a runners-up medal at the 2004 Asian Cup preceded his induction into English football's Hall of Fame in 2015. Career record: 80 caps and 1 goals for China; club career at Dalian Shide, Manchester City, Guizhou Renhe.
The almanac puts Sun Jihai ahead by 3 rating points, 84 against 81.
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