Michael Essien vs Tony Yeboah
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.
Tony Yeboah
Ghana · 1993–95 · ST
- Almanac rating
- 87
- Rank in Ghana
- #6 of 33
- Caps
- 59 · 29 goals
- Clubs
- Eintracht Frankfurt, Leeds United, Hamburger SV
One volley on a Monday night at Elland Road, 21 August 1995, settled Leeds against Liverpool when Yeboah met a dropping ball and put it in off the underside of the bar, and his goal at Wimbledon a month later took Goal of the Season. Twice the Bundesliga's top scorer with Eintracht Frankfurt, in 1993 and 1994, he was the first African to captain a Bundesliga club and finished second in the 1993 African Footballer of the Year vote. Career record: 59 caps and 29 goals for Ghana; club career at Eintracht Frankfurt, Leeds United, Hamburger SV.
The verdict
The almanac puts Michael Essien ahead by 3 rating points, 90 against 87.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.