Bryan Ruiz vs Christian Bolaños
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.
Christian Bolaños
Costa Rica · 2005–18 · RM
- Almanac rating
- 81
- Rank in Costa Rica
- #10 of 33
- Caps
- 87 · 6 goals
- Clubs
- Deportivo Saprissa, F.C. Copenhagen, Vancouver Whitecaps
The 2014 quarter-final against the Netherlands went to penalties, and Bolaños took the ball, put his kick away and watched Costa Rica go out anyway. Two Danish Superliga titles with Copenhagen in 2010-11 and 2012-13 head his club record, with the 2011-12 Danish Cup, three Saprissa championships, the 2005 CONCACAF Champions Cup, and 87 Costa Rica caps spread across the 2006, 2014 and 2018 World Cups. Career record: 87 caps and 6 goals for Costa Rica; club career at Deportivo Saprissa, F.C. Copenhagen, Vancouver Whitecaps.
The verdict
The almanac puts Bryan Ruiz ahead by 4 rating points, 85 against 81.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.