Celso Ayala vs José Luis Chilavert
Paraguay against Paraguay. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
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.
José Luis Chilavert
Paraguay · 1994–99 · GK
- Almanac rating
- 90
- Rank in Paraguay
- #2 of 33
- Caps
- 74 · 8 goals
- Clubs
- San Lorenzo de Almagro, Real Zaragoza, Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield
In 1999 he stepped up three times for Vélez Sarsfield against Ferro Carril Oeste and converted all three penalties, the first goalkeeper in professional football to score a hat-trick. He won the 1994 Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup with Vélez, four Argentine championships, three IFFHS world goalkeeper awards in 1995, 1997 and 1998, a place in the 1998 World Cup team of the tournament, and finished on 67 career goals, second only to Rogério Ceni among keepers. Career record: 74 caps and 8 goals for Paraguay; club career at San Lorenzo de Almagro, Real Zaragoza, Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield.
The verdict
The almanac puts José Luis Chilavert ahead by 4 rating points, 90 against 86.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.