33·Legends

Bixente Lizarazu vs Nuno Mendes

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

BL

Bixente Lizarazu

France · 1988–2006 · LB

Almanac rating
90
Rank in France
#13 of 33
Caps
97 · 2 goals
Clubs
FC Girondins de Bordeaux, Athletic Club, FC Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich's shootout against Valencia at the San Siro in May 2001 came down to nerve, and the small Basque left back buried his penalty on the way to the European Cup. He started the finals of both the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, won two Confederations Cups with France, and collected six Bundesliga titles and five German cups at Bayern. Career record: 97 caps and 2 goals for France; club career at FC Girondins de Bordeaux, Athletic Club, FC Bayern Munich.

vs
NM

Nuno Mendes

Portugal · 2020–26 · LB

Almanac rating
90
Rank in Portugal
#11 of 33

Portugal leaned on him in the Munich final of the 2025 Nations League: he scored the equaliser against Spain, stayed with Lamine Yamal down that flank all night, and buried his kick in the shootout. That Nations League title sits beside back to back Champions League wins with Paris Saint-Germain in 2025 and 2026, five Ligue 1 titles, two Coupes de France, and the Primeira Liga he won as a teenager at Sporting.

The verdict

The almanac cannot separate them: both are rated 90.

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

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