Keisuke Honda vs Kunishige Kamamoto
Japan against Japan. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Keisuke Honda
Japan · 2010–16 · RM
- Almanac rating
- 87
- Rank in Japan
- #3 of 33
- Caps
- 98 · 38 goals
- Clubs
- Nagoya Grampus, PFC CSKA Moscow, AC Milan
Japan needed only a draw against Denmark in Rustenburg on 24 June 2010, and Honda opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a knuckling free kick that dipped away from Thomas Sorensen. The 2011 Asian Cup made him its most valuable player, and he went on to become the first Japanese player to score at three World Cups, winning a Russian league title and two Russian Cups with CSKA Moscow and the 2016 Supercoppa Italiana at Milan. Career record: 98 caps and 38 goals for Japan; club career at Nagoya Grampus, PFC CSKA Moscow, AC Milan.
Kunishige Kamamoto
Japan · 1960s · SS
- Almanac rating
- 86
- Rank in Japan
- #8 of 33
- Caps
- 61 · 55 goals
- Clubs
- Cerezo Osaka
- Honours
- Hall of Fame 2014
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 verdict
The almanac puts Keisuke Honda ahead by 1 rating point, 87 against 86.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.