Celso Ayala vs Roque Santa Cruz
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.
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 Roque Santa Cruz ahead by 1 rating point, 87 against 86.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.