Ali Karimi vs Ali Parvin
Iran against Iran. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
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.
Ali Parvin
Iran · 1972–78 · CM
- Almanac rating
- 87
- Rank in Iran
- #3 of 33
- Caps
- 76 · 8 goals
- Clubs
- Kian, Paykan, Persepolis
A hundred thousand people were inside the Aryamehr Stadium in Tehran on 13 June 1976 when Parvin scored in the 73rd minute to beat Kuwait and keep the Asian Cup in Iran. Tournament MVP that summer, he had already won the 1972 Asian Cup and Asian Games gold in 1974, went to Iran's first World Cup in 1978, and made 341 appearances for Persepolis over 18 years, scoring 153 goals. Career record: 76 caps and 8 goals for Iran; club career at Kian, Paykan, Persepolis.
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.