Arsenio Erico vs Celso Ayala
Paraguay against Paraguay. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Arsenio Erico
Paraguay · 1937–42 · ST
- Almanac rating
- 91
- Rank in Paraguay
- #1 of 33
- Caps
- 56 · 26 goals
- Clubs
- Club Nacional, Club Atlético Independiente, Club Atlético Huracán
Independiente's crowd called him the Saltarín Rojo for the way he rose above defenders, and in 1937 he scored 47 league goals in a single Argentine season, a figure nobody has matched since. Argentina's top scorer in 1937, 1938 and 1939, he won the league with Independiente in 1938 and 1939 and the Paraguayan title with Nacional in 1942, scoring close to 300 goals in Argentina, and Alfredo Di Stéfano rated him among the greatest he ever saw. Career record: 56 caps and 26 goals for Paraguay; club career at Club Nacional, Club Atlético Independiente, Club Atlético Huracán.
Celso Ayala
Paraguay · 1996–98 · CB
- Almanac rating
- 86
- Rank in Paraguay
- #10 of 33
- Caps
- 85 · 6 goals
- Clubs
- Club Atlético River Plate, Real Betis Balompié, Atlético Madrid
Inside a minute in Toulouse on 24 June 1998, the centre-half put Paraguay ahead against Nigeria, and that 3-1 win carried them into the second round. He won the Copa Libertadores with River Plate in 1996 and six Argentine league titles across two spells there, and he played 85 times for Paraguay at four Copa América tournaments and the 1998 World Cup. Career record: 85 caps and 6 goals for Paraguay; club career at Club Atlético River Plate, Real Betis Balompié, Atlético Madrid.
The verdict
The almanac puts Arsenio Erico ahead by 5 rating points, 91 against 86.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.