Bryan Ruiz vs Hernán Medford
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.
Hernán Medford
Costa Rica · 1988–96 · SS
- Almanac rating
- 82
- Rank in Costa Rica
- #7 of 33
- Caps
- 89 · 18 goals
- Clubs
- Rayo Vallecano, CF Pachuca, Club León
In the closing minutes at Genoa on 20 June 1990, the striker Costa Rica called Pelícano scored the goal that beat Sweden 2-1 and carried a debutant nation into the knockout round at its first World Cup. Behind that goal sit three Costa Rican league titles with Saprissa in 1988, 1989 and 1993-94, the 1993 CONCACAF Champions Cup, a Mexican title with Pachuca in 1996 and a place in CONCACAF's Team of the Century. Career record: 89 caps and 18 goals for Costa Rica; club career at Rayo Vallecano, CF Pachuca, Club León.
The verdict
The almanac puts Bryan Ruiz ahead by 3 rating points, 85 against 82.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.