Michael Essien vs Sulley Muntari
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.
Sulley Muntari
Ghana · 2008–10 · CDM
- Almanac rating
- 86
- Rank in Ghana
- #10 of 33
- Caps
- 84 · 20 goals
- Clubs
- Udinese Calcio, Portsmouth, Inter Milan
Two minutes into first-half stoppage time of the Soccer City quarter-final on 2 July 2010, he let fly from long range and beat Fernando Muslera to put Ghana in front of Uruguay. Six weeks earlier he had come on in Madrid as Inter beat Bayern to seal the treble, giving him the Champions League, two Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia and the Club World Cup, on top of the FA Cup he won with Portsmouth in 2008. Career record: 84 caps and 20 goals for Ghana; club career at Udinese Calcio, Portsmouth, Inter Milan.
The verdict
The almanac puts Michael Essien ahead by 4 rating points, 90 against 86.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.