Asamoah Gyan vs Michael Essien
Ghana against Ghana. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Asamoah Gyan
Ghana · 2006–15 · ST
- Almanac rating
- 88
- Rank in Ghana
- #4 of 33
- Caps
- 109 · 51 goals
- Clubs
- Udinese Calcio, Modena, Stade Rennais
Suárez handled on the line in the last minute of extra time in Johannesburg on 2 July 2010, and Gyan's penalty struck the crossbar with a first World Cup semi-final for an African team behind it. Ghana's leading scorer on 51 goals in 109 caps, he also has six World Cup goals across 2006, 2010 and 2014, more than any other African, and was a Nations Cup runner-up in 2010 and 2015. Career record: 109 caps and 51 goals for Ghana; club career at Udinese Calcio, Modena, Stade Rennais.
Michael Essien
Ghana · 2005–12 · CDM
- Almanac rating
- 90
- Rank in Ghana
- #1 of 33
- Caps
- 59 · 9 goals
- Clubs
- SC Bastia, Olympique Lyonnais, Chelsea
Nine minutes into the semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge on 6 May 2009, a Barcelona clearance dropped to Essien 25 yards out and he volleyed it in off the underside of the bar. He won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012, two Premier League titles and four FA Cups there, back-to-back Ligue 1 titles at Lyon, and took Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 2005 and BBC African Footballer of the Year in 2006. Career record: 59 caps and 9 goals for Ghana; club career at SC Bastia, Olympique Lyonnais, Chelsea.
The verdict
The almanac puts Michael Essien ahead by 2 rating points, 90 against 88.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.