Shinji Kagawa vs Shunsuke Nakamura
Japan against Japan. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Shinji Kagawa
Japan · 2011–17 · CAM
- Almanac rating
- 88
- Rank in Japan
- #2 of 33
- Caps
- 97 · 31 goals
- Clubs
- Cerezo Osaka, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United
Rooney set up all three on 2 March 2013 and he finished each one without fuss, a 4-0 win over Norwich that made him the first Asian player to score a Premier League hat-trick. Two Bundesliga titles at Dortmund in 2011 and 2012 came with the 2012 German cup, followed by the 2012-13 Premier League with Manchester United, the 2011 Asian Cup with Japan, and a second DFB-Pokal back in Dortmund in 2017. Career record: 97 caps and 31 goals for Japan; club career at Cerezo Osaka, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United.
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 Shinji Kagawa ahead by 1 rating point, 88 against 87.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.