Hwang Sun-hong vs Park Ji-sung
South Korea against South Korea. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Hwang Sun-hong
South Korea · 1997–2002 · ST
- Almanac rating
- 85
- Rank in South Korea
- #6 of 33
- Caps
- 103 · 50 goals
- Clubs
- FC Pohang Steelers, Cerezo Osaka, Kashiwa Reysol
Twenty-six minutes into the 2002 opener against Poland in Busan he met a cross on the volley with his left foot, and South Korea had their first World Cup win after forty-eight years of trying. Two Asian Club Championships with Pohang Steelers in 1997 and 1998 sit alongside 50 goals in 103 caps for South Korea and a J1 League top-scorer prize at Cerezo Osaka in 1999, when he scored 24 in 25. Career record: 103 caps and 50 goals for South Korea; club career at FC Pohang Steelers, Cerezo Osaka, Kashiwa Reysol.
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 4 rating points, 89 against 85.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.