Sun Jihai vs Zheng Zhi
China against China. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Sun Jihai
China · 1996–2015 · RB
- Almanac rating
- 84
- Rank in China
- #1 of 33
- Caps
- 80 · 1 goals
- Clubs
- Dalian Shide, Manchester City, Guizhou Renhe
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.
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 cannot separate them: both are rated 84.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.