Ahn Jung-hwan vs Cha Bum-kun
South Korea against South Korea. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Ahn Jung-hwan
South Korea · 1999–2006 · SS
- Almanac rating
- 84
- Rank in South Korea
- #8 of 33
- Caps
- 71 · 17 goals
- Clubs
- Busan IPark, Shimizu S-Pulse, Dalian Shide
In the 117th minute against Italy in Daejeon on 18 June 2002, he met Lee Young-pyo's cross with his head and sent the co-hosts into the quarter-finals, and Perugia terminated his contract the following day. Fourth place at that World Cup and selection in its All-Star team stand alongside the J1 League he won with Yokohama F. Marinos in 2004, the 1999 K League MVP award, and another World Cup goal against Togo in 2006. Career record: 71 caps and 17 goals for South Korea; club career at Busan IPark, Shimizu S-Pulse, Dalian Shide.
Cha Bum-kun
South Korea · 1980–88 · RM
- Almanac rating
- 89
- Rank in South Korea
- #2 of 33
- Caps
- 129 · 56 goals
- Clubs
- SV Darmstadt 98, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- Honours
- Hall of Fame 2019
Bayer Leverkusen trailed Espanyol 3-0 from the first leg of the 1988 UEFA Cup final when he scored the goal that made it 3-3 on aggregate and forced the shootout they went on to win. That was his second UEFA Cup after Eintracht Frankfurt's in 1980, making him the first to win the trophy with two German clubs, and he scored 98 goals in 308 Bundesliga games before the IFFHS named him Asia's player of the century. Career record: 129 caps and 56 goals for South Korea; club career at SV Darmstadt 98, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer 04 Leverkusen; honours include Hall of Fame 2019.
The verdict
The almanac puts Cha Bum-kun ahead by 5 rating points, 89 against 84.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.