Karim Bagheri vs Nasser Hejazi
Iran against Iran. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
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.
Nasser Hejazi
Iran · 1970–2000 · GK
- Almanac rating
- 86
- Rank in Iran
- #10 of 33
- Caps
- 62 · 0 goals
- Clubs
- Esteghlal, Shahin, Mohammedan SC
Scotland could not beat him in Córdoba on 7 June 1978; their only goal was an Iranian own goal, and the 1-1 draw stayed Iran's sole World Cup point for twenty years. The AFC named him the second-best Asian goalkeeper of the twentieth century in 2000, and his medals include the 1976 Asian Cup won in Tehran, Asian Games gold in 1974 and the 1970 Asian club title with Taj. Career record: 62 caps and 0 goals for Iran; club career at Esteghlal, Shahin, Mohammedan SC.
The verdict
The almanac cannot separate them: both are rated 86.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.