33·Legends

Hong Myung-bo vs Kim Min-jae

South Korea against South Korea. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.

HM

Hong Myung-bo

South Korea · 1990–2002 · CB

Almanac rating
87
Rank in South Korea
#4 of 33
Caps
136 · 10 goals
Clubs
FC Pohang Steelers, Shonan Bellmare, Kashiwa Reysol

In Gwangju on 22 June 2002 he walked up to take South Korea's fifth penalty against Spain and buried it, sending the hosts into a World Cup semi-final. He was voted the tournament's third best player and took the Bronze Ball, the first Asian to finish in a World Cup's top three, after 136 caps, four World Cups from 1990 to 2002 and a place in the 2002 All-Star team. Career record: 136 caps and 10 goals for South Korea; club career at FC Pohang Steelers, Shonan Bellmare, Kashiwa Reysol.

vs
KM

Kim Min-jae

South Korea · 2018–22 · CB

Almanac rating
87
Rank in South Korea
#5 of 33

Naples called him il Mostro in his first season there, 2022/23, when he replaced Kalidou Koulibaly and played 35 of 38 league games for a side that had not won Italy since Maradona. That Scudetto came with Serie A's best defender award, the first for an Asian player, and he has since won consecutive Bundesliga titles at Bayern Munich, plus two K League crowns at Jeonbuk and Asian Games gold in 2018.

The verdict

The almanac cannot separate them: both are rated 87.

Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.

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