Kazuyoshi Miura vs Shunsuke Nakamura
Japan against Japan. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Kazuyoshi Miura
Japan · 1992–2026 · ST
- Almanac rating
- 86
- Rank in Japan
- #7 of 33
- Caps
- 89 · 55 goals
- Clubs
- Tokyo Verdy, Vissel Kobe, Yokohama
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.
Shunsuke Nakamura
Japan · 2000–07 · CAM
- Almanac rating
- 87
- Rank in Japan
- #5 of 33
- Caps
- 98 · 24 goals
- Clubs
- Yokohama F. Marinos, AS Reggina 1914, Celtic
Celtic Park, 21 November 2006: Nakamura bent a free kick from 30 yards past Edwin van der Sar late on, and the 1-0 win over Manchester United sent Celtic into the knockout rounds for the first time. He was Asian Cup champion with Japan in 2000 and 2004, best player of the 2004 tournament, and won three Scottish titles, a Scottish Cup, two League Cups and Scotland's 2007 player of the year award at Celtic. Career record: 98 caps and 24 goals for Japan; club career at Yokohama F. Marinos, AS Reggina 1914, Celtic.
The verdict
The almanac puts Shunsuke Nakamura ahead by 1 rating point, 87 against 86.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.