Choi Soon-ho vs Park Ji-sung
South Korea against South Korea. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Choi Soon-ho
South Korea · 1980s · ST
- Almanac rating
- 84
- Rank in South Korea
- #9 of 33
- Caps
- 97 · 30 goals
- Clubs
- FC Pohang Steelers, FC Seoul, Rodez AF
Italy were defending the World Cup when he struck from outside the box in the 62nd minute at Puebla on 10 June 1986, and he set up Huh Jung-moo's late goal in the 3-2 defeat that followed. Six years earlier he had been the AFC Asian Cup's youngest ever top scorer at 18, and he went on to Asian Games gold in 1986, K League titles with POSCO and Lucky-Goldstar, and 30 goals in more than 90 caps. Career record: 97 caps and 30 goals for South Korea; club career at FC Pohang Steelers, FC Seoul, Rodez AF.
Park Ji-sung
South Korea · 2008–10 · CM
- Almanac rating
- 89
- Rank in South Korea
- #3 of 33
- Caps
- 100 · 13 goals
- Clubs
- Kyoto Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United
United supporters called him Three-Lung Park, and the 2010 tie with Milan showed why: Ferguson gave him Andrea Pirlo, and he shadowed the Italian for 180 minutes, scoring himself in the 4-0 second leg at Old Trafford. Four Premier League titles, the 2008 Champions League and three League Cups came at Manchester United, where he was the first Asian player to start a Champions League final, in Rome in 2009. Career record: 100 caps and 13 goals for South Korea; club career at Kyoto Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United.
The verdict
The almanac puts Park Ji-sung ahead by 5 rating points, 89 against 84.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.