Japan against Japan. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Japan · 1992–2026 · ST
On 26 July 2026, aged 59, Kazu scored in the 52nd minute of Fukushima United's 7-0 Emperor's Cup win over Iwaki Furukawa, his first competitive goal in almost four years. He won the 1992 Asian Cup on home soil as the tournament's best player, was Asian Footballer of the Year in 1993, took the first J.League MVP award that year with Verdy Kawasaki, and is into a 42nd season across Brazil, Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal. Career record: 89 caps and 55 goals for Japan; club career at Tokyo Verdy, Vissel Kobe, Yokohama.
Japan · 1960s · SS
Two first-half goals at the Azteca on 23 October 1968 beat hosts Mexico 2-0 for the Olympic bronze, and they took Kamamoto to seven for the tournament, the top scorer at the Games. That 1968 bronze was Asia's first football medal, and it sits with 75 goals in 76 internationals, still the Japan record, four Japan Soccer League titles and three Emperor's Cups at Yanmar Diesel, seven league scoring crowns and seven Japanese footballer of the year awards. Career record: 61 caps and 55 goals for Japan; club career at Cerezo Osaka; honours include Hall of Fame 2014.
The almanac cannot separate them: both are rated 86.
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