Johan Cruyff vs Johan Neeskens
Netherlands against Netherlands. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Johan Cruyff
Netherlands · 1964–84 · CAM
- Almanac rating
- 98
- Rank in Netherlands
- #1 of 33
- Caps
- 48 · 33 goals
- Clubs
- AFC Ajax, FC Barcelona, Feyenoord Rotterdam
- Honours
- Ballon d'Or 1971 · national Player of the Year 1968 · Hall of Fame
Dortmund, 19 June 1974: he showed Jan Olsson the ball, dragged it behind his standing leg and turned away, and the move has carried his name ever since. Cruyff took the Ballon d'Or in 1971, 1973 and 1974, won three straight European Cups with Ajax and eight Dutch titles there, La Liga with Barcelona in 1974, and the Golden Ball at the World Cup whose final he lost in Munich. Career record: 48 caps and 33 goals for Netherlands; club career at AFC Ajax, FC Barcelona, Feyenoord Rotterdam; honours include Ballon d'Or 1971, national Player of the Year 1968, Hall of Fame.
Johan Neeskens
Netherlands · 1968–85 · CM
- Almanac rating
- 90
- Rank in Netherlands
- #9 of 33
- Caps
- 49 · 17 goals
- Clubs
- AFC Ajax, FC Barcelona, New York Cosmos
The beating heart of Total Football, his relentless energy and box-to-box prowess drove Ajax, Barcelona, and the Dutch national team to multiple finals in the 1970s. Career record: 49 caps and 17 goals for Netherlands; club career at AFC Ajax, FC Barcelona, New York Cosmos.
The verdict
The almanac puts Johan Cruyff ahead by 8 rating points, 98 against 90.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.