Ali Daei vs Ali Karimi
Iran against Iran. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Ali Daei
Iran · 1996–2021 · ST
- Almanac rating
- 87
- Rank in Iran
- #1 of 33
Daei scored four goals between the 66th minute and the 89th in Dubai on 16 December 1996, turning an Asian Cup quarter-final against South Korea into a 6-2 win. First man to 100 international goals, reached against Laos in November 2004, he held the world record until 2021; add the 1996 Asian Cup golden boot with eight, Asian Games gold in 1998, Asian Footballer of the Year in 1999 and a Bundesliga title at Bayern Munich.
Ali Karimi
Iran · 1998–2006 · CM
- Almanac rating
- 87
- Rank in Iran
- #2 of 33
- Caps
- 127 · 38 goals
- Clubs
- Persepolis, Shabab AlAhli Dubai Club, Steel Azin
Tehran called him the Magician, and on 30 July 2004 he showed why with a hat-trick against South Korea in an Asian Cup quarter-final Iran won 4-3. That tournament made him joint top scorer with five goals and Asian Footballer of the Year for 2004; he won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double with Bayern Munich in 2005-06, two Iranian titles with Persepolis, Asian Games gold in 1998, and played at the 2006 World Cup among 127 caps. Career record: 127 caps and 38 goals for Iran; club career at Persepolis, Shabab AlAhli Dubai Club, Steel Azin.
The verdict
The almanac cannot separate them: both are rated 87.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.