Shinji Kagawa vs Takehiro Tomiyasu
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.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Japan · 2016–23 · CB
- Almanac rating
- 86
- Rank in Japan
- #9 of 33
- Caps
- 23
- Clubs
- Avispa Fukuoka, Bologna F.C. 1909, Arsenal
Hajime Moriyasu sent him on at half-time on 23 November 2022, Japan a goal down to Germany, rebuilt the back line as a five around him, and won 2-1 on the day of Tomiyasu's World Cup debut. Runner-up with Japan at the 2019 Asian Cup, he won the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship with a back line that conceded nothing in six matches and took the 2023 Community Shield during four years at Arsenal. Career record: 23 caps for Japan; club career at Avispa Fukuoka, Bologna F.C. 1909, Arsenal.
The verdict
The almanac puts Shinji Kagawa ahead by 2 rating points, 88 against 86.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.