Johan Cruyff vs Cristiano Ronaldo
Netherlands against Portugal. 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.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal · 2002–26 · LM
- Almanac rating
- 98
- Rank in Portugal
- #1 of 33
- Caps
- 233 · 146 goals
- Clubs
- Manchester United, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, Al-Nassr
- Honours
- 3× Ballon d'Or (2008–2014) · FIFA World Player of the Year 2008 · 2× European Golden Shoe (2008–2011)
The Juventus crowd stood and applauded a Real Madrid player on 3 April 2018, after he rose 2.31 metres in their own stadium and hooked an overhead kick past their goalkeeper. He has won five Ballon d'Or awards, five European Cups, Euro 2016 with Portugal, the Nations League in 2019 and 2025, and league titles in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia; his 140 Champions League goals remain the record. Career record: 233 caps and 146 goals for Portugal; club career at Manchester United, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, Al-Nassr; honours include 3× Ballon d'Or (2008–2014), FIFA World Player of the Year 2008, 2× European Golden Shoe (2008–2011).
The verdict
The almanac cannot separate them: both are rated 98.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.