33·Legends

Joseph-Antoine Bell vs Patrick Mboma

Cameroon against Cameroon. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.

JB

Joseph-Antoine Bell

Cameroon · 1984–90 · GK

Almanac rating
88
Rank in Cameroon
#4 of 33
Caps
50 · 0 goals
Clubs
Olympique de Marseille, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, AS Saint-Étienne

Hours before Cameroon met Argentina in Milan on 8 June 1990, he was dropped for telling the press what he thought of the squad's preparation, and watched the 1-0 win over the holders from the bench. Two Africa Cup of Nations titles, in 1984 and 1988, best goalkeeper of that 1988 tournament, and the IFFHS African goalkeeper of the century award after nine seasons in France with Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulon and Saint-Étienne. Career record: 50 caps and 0 goals for Cameroon; club career at Olympique de Marseille, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, AS Saint-Étienne.

vs
PM

Patrick Mboma

Cameroon · 1997–2002 · SS

Almanac rating
88
Rank in Cameroon
#5 of 33
Caps
57 · 33 goals
Clubs
LB Châteauroux, Cagliari Calcio, Tokyo Verdy

Japan saw him first: 25 goals in 28 games in his debut J.League season with Gamba Osaka in 1997, enough for the top scorer award and a place in the league's best eleven. Africa Cup of Nations winner in 2000 and 2002 and its top scorer in 2002, Olympic champion at Sydney with four goals, African Footballer of the Year in 2000, and a Coppa Italia winner with Parma. Career record: 57 caps and 33 goals for Cameroon; club career at LB Châteauroux, Cagliari Calcio, Tokyo Verdy.

The verdict

The almanac cannot separate them: both are rated 88.

Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.

More arguments