Arsenio Erico vs Roque Santa Cruz
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.
Roque Santa Cruz
Paraguay · 2000–11 · SS
- Almanac rating
- 87
- Rank in Paraguay
- #7 of 33
- Caps
- 112 · 32 goals
- Clubs
- FC Bayern Munich, Blackburn Rovers, Club Libertad
Blackburn signed him in 2007 and he gave them 19 goals in 37 league games, fourth in the Premier League that season behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres and Emmanuel Adebayor. Before that he had won the Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup with Bayern in 2001, with Bundesliga titles from 2000 to 2006, and he finished as a Copa América runner-up in 2011 holding Paraguay's records for caps (112) and goals (32). Career record: 112 caps and 32 goals for Paraguay; club career at FC Bayern Munich, Blackburn Rovers, Club Libertad.
The verdict
The almanac puts Arsenio Erico ahead by 4 rating points, 91 against 87.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.