Michael Essien vs Samuel Kuffour
Ghana against Ghana. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
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.
Samuel Kuffour
Ghana · 1990s · CB
- Almanac rating
- 89
- Rank in Ghana
- #3 of 33
- Caps
- 59 · 3 goals
- Clubs
- FC Bayern Munich, AS Roma, US Livorno 1915
Kuffour spent the minutes after the 1999 Champions League final in Barcelona lying face down on the turf, beating the ground with his fists, and Bayern's supporters took him to heart for it. Two years later he played all 120 minutes of the final Bayern did win against Valencia, then scored the goal that beat Boca Juniors in Tokyo, and he collected six Bundesliga titles, four German cups and Olympic bronze with Ghana at 15. Career record: 59 caps and 3 goals for Ghana; club career at FC Bayern Munich, AS Roma, US Livorno 1915.
The verdict
The almanac puts Michael Essien ahead by 1 rating point, 90 against 89.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.