Shinji Kagawa vs Yasuhito Endo
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.
Yasuhito Endo
Japan · 2004–19 · CDM
- Almanac rating
- 86
- Rank in Japan
- #10 of 33
- Caps
- 152 · 15 goals
- Clubs
- Kyoto Sanga, Gamba Osaka, Júbilo Iwata
No one has played more J.League football than Endo's 672 matches, and on 2 August 2019 he came off the bench for Gamba Osaka against Vissel Kobe to reach 1,000 official appearances. Two Asian Cups came with Japan, in 2004 and 2011, and his 152 caps remain the national record; Gamba Osaka brought the 2008 AFC Champions League and its best player award, two J1 titles and four Emperor's Cups, plus Asian Footballer of the Year in 2009. Career record: 152 caps and 15 goals for Japan; club career at Kyoto Sanga, Gamba Osaka, Júbilo Iwata.
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.