Alejandro Morera Soto vs Bryan Ruiz
Costa Rica against Costa Rica. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Alejandro Morera Soto
Costa Rica · 1928–98 · ST
- Almanac rating
- 83
- Rank in Costa Rica
- #5 of 33
- Caps
- 7 · 6 goals
- Clubs
- Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, FC Barcelona, Hércules CF
In 1933 he beat Ricardo Zamora in a 2-1 defeat against Real Madrid, and closed his first Spanish season as Barcelona's leading scorer with 41 goals. El Mago del Balón scored 312 league goals in 364 Alajuelense games, took Costa Rican titles in 1928, 1939 and 1945 and the Catalan championship in 1935, and was voted his country's player of the century in 1998; his heart lies beneath the east stand of the ground named after him. Career record: 7 caps and 6 goals for Costa Rica; club career at Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, FC Barcelona, Hércules CF.
Bryan Ruiz
Costa Rica · 2004–14 · LM
- Almanac rating
- 85
- Rank in Costa Rica
- #2 of 33
- Caps
- 147 · 29 goals
- Clubs
- Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, Fulham, Sporting CP
A header on 44 minutes in Recife, 20 June 2014, beat Italy 1-0 and left Costa Rica top of a group that also held Uruguay and England. Ruiz captained that side to the quarter-finals, where the Netherlands needed penalties to stop them, and retired after three World Cups with 147 caps and 29 goals; Twente gave him the Eredivisie in 2010 and the KNVB Cup in 2011, Sporting the Taça da Liga, Alajuelense the 2004 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Career record: 147 caps and 29 goals for Costa Rica; club career at Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, Fulham, Sporting CP.
The verdict
The almanac puts Bryan Ruiz ahead by 2 rating points, 85 against 83.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.