Manuel Neuer vs Johan Cruyff
Germany against Netherlands. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Manuel Neuer
Germany · 2013–20 · GK
- Almanac rating
- 96
- Rank in Germany
- #3 of 33
- Caps
- 128 · 0 goals
- Clubs
- Schalke 04, FC Bayern Munich
- Honours
- 2× national Player of the Year (2011–2014) · 2× Hall of Fame (2019–2019)
Germany's back four pushed so high against Algeria on 30 June 2014 that he spent the night guarding the space behind them, racing beyond his box to head and hook the ball clear. A fortnight later he kept Argentina out for 120 minutes of the final, winning the World Cup and the Golden Glove, and his Bayern years brought the 2013 and 2020 Champions League inside two trebles plus five IFFHS awards as the world's best goalkeeper. Career record: 128 caps and 0 goals for Germany; club career at FC Schalke 04 II, Schalke 04, FC Bayern Munich; honours include 2× national Player of the Year (2011–2014), 2× Hall of Fame (2019–2019).
Johan Cruyff
Netherlands · 1964–84 · CAM
- Almanac rating
- 98
- Rank in Netherlands
- #1 of 33
- Caps
- 48 · 33 goals
- Clubs
- AFC Ajax, FC Barcelona, Feyenoord Rotterdam
- Honours
- Ballon d'Or 1971 · national Player of the Year 1968 · Hall of Fame
Dortmund, 19 June 1974: he showed Jan Olsson the ball, dragged it behind his standing leg and turned away, and the move has carried his name ever since. Cruyff took the Ballon d'Or in 1971, 1973 and 1974, won three straight European Cups with Ajax and eight Dutch titles there, La Liga with Barcelona in 1974, and the Golden Ball at the World Cup whose final he lost in Munich. Career record: 48 caps and 33 goals for Netherlands; club career at AFC Ajax, FC Barcelona, Feyenoord Rotterdam; honours include Ballon d'Or 1971, national Player of the Year 1968, Hall of Fame.
The verdict
The almanac puts Johan Cruyff ahead by 2 rating points, 98 against 96.
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