Bryan Ruiz vs Celso Borges
Costa Rica against Costa Rica. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
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.
Celso Borges
Costa Rica · 2010s · CDM
- Almanac rating
- 84
- Rank in Costa Rica
- #3 of 33
- Caps
- 164 · 27 goals
- Clubs
- Deportivo Saprissa, Deportivo de A Coruña, Liga Deportiva Alajuelense
When Costa Rica went to penalties against Greece in Recife in June 2014, Borges walked up first and scored, and four teammates followed him to a 5-3 win. He has since become Costa Rica's most capped player on 164 appearances with 27 goals across three World Cups, and he won five championships with Saprissa before spells at AIK, Deportivo La Coruña and Alajuelense. Career record: 164 caps and 27 goals for Costa Rica; club career at Deportivo Saprissa, Deportivo de A Coruña, Liga Deportiva Alajuelense.
The verdict
The almanac puts Bryan Ruiz ahead by 1 rating point, 85 against 84.
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