Kolo Touré vs Yaya Touré
Côte d’Ivoire against Côte d’Ivoire. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Kolo Touré
Côte d’Ivoire · 2002–15 · CB
- Almanac rating
- 88
- Rank in Côte d’Ivoire
- #3 of 33
- Caps
- 120 · 7 goals
- Clubs
- Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool
His 2002 Arsenal trial is remembered for a two-footed tackle on Arsène Wenger, who signed him anyway and later called it enthusiasm. The unbeaten 2003-04 season at Arsenal took in 37 of his league appearances, a second Premier League followed with Manchester City in 2012, and 120 caps for Côte d'Ivoire ended with the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, decided 9-8 on penalties against Ghana. Career record: 120 caps and 7 goals for Côte d’Ivoire; club career at Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool.
Yaya Touré
Côte d’Ivoire · 2009–15 · CM
- Almanac rating
- 91
- Rank in Côte d’Ivoire
- #2 of 33
- Caps
- 102 · 19 goals
- Clubs
- K.S.K. Beveren, FC Barcelona, Manchester City
Manchester City had gone 35 years without a trophy when he scored the only goal in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United and then the only goal in the final against Stoke. He won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, four straight African Footballer of the Year awards from 2011, the 2009 Champions League with Barcelona while filling in at centre-back in the final, three Premier League titles and two in Spain. Career record: 102 caps and 19 goals for Côte d’Ivoire; club career at K.S.K. Beveren, FC Barcelona, Manchester City.
The verdict
The almanac puts Yaya Touré ahead by 3 rating points, 91 against 88.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.