Ali Daei vs Mehdi Mahdavikia
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.
Mehdi Mahdavikia
Iran · 1998–2003 · RB
- Almanac rating
- 86
- Rank in Iran
- #8 of 33
- Caps
- 110 · 13 goals
- Clubs
- Persepolis, Hamburger SV, Steel Azin
Lyon, 21 June 1998: his goal made it 2-0 against the United States and sealed Iran's first win at a World Cup. Hamburg then kept him for eight seasons and 211 Bundesliga appearances, and he was named Asian Footballer of the Year in 2003, having already taken Asian Games gold in 1998; he finished with 110 caps and three years as Iran's captain. Career record: 110 caps and 13 goals for Iran; club career at Persepolis, Hamburger SV, Steel Azin.
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.