Arsenio Erico vs Julio César Romero
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.
Julio César Romero
Paraguay · 1979–86 · CM
- Almanac rating
- 88
- Rank in Paraguay
- #5 of 33
Two goals in the group stage of the 1986 World Cup, against Iraq on 4 June and the hosts at the Azteca three days later, carried Paraguay into the second round. He was South American Footballer of the Year in 1985, won the Copa América in 1979 with three goals in the tournament, took the Brazilian title with Fluminense in 1984, and scored the winner in the Cosmos' Soccer Bowl victory in 1980.
The verdict
The almanac puts Arsenio Erico ahead by 3 rating points, 91 against 88.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.