Ali Karimi vs Parviz Ghelichkhani
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.
Parviz Ghelichkhani
Iran · 1962–1978 · CM
- Almanac rating
- 87
- Rank in Iran
- #5 of 33
- Caps
- 64 · 12 goals
- Clubs
- Kian, Esteghlal, San Jose Earthquakes
Captaining Iran in front of a hundred thousand at Tehran's Aryamehr Stadium, he lifted Asian Games gold in September 1974, a deep-lying midfielder trusted for his tackling, his range of pass and his authority. No other player has won three straight Asian Cups, which he did in 1968, 1972 and 1976, and his 66 caps ended with his removal from Iran's first World Cup squad in 1978, a decision widely read as political. Career record: 64 caps and 12 goals for Iran; club career at Kian, Esteghlal, San Jose Earthquakes.
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.