Ali Daei vs Karim Bagheri
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.
Karim Bagheri
Iran · 1997–98 · CDM
- Almanac rating
- 86
- Rank in Iran
- #7 of 33
- Caps
- 87 · 50 goals
- Clubs
- Tractor, Keshavarz, Arminia Bielefeld
On 2 June 1997 he scored seven times against the Maldives in a World Cup qualifier, matching the record for a single qualifying match, and finished that campaign as the leading scorer across all six confederations with 19 goals. He ended with 50 goals in 87 caps, the most by any midfielder in international football, and won Asian Games gold in 1998 plus a run of league titles at Persepolis. Career record: 87 caps and 50 goals for Iran; club career at Tractor, Keshavarz, Arminia Bielefeld.
The verdict
The almanac puts Ali Daei ahead by 1 rating point, 87 against 86.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.