Héctor Chumpitaz vs Julio Meléndez
Peru against Peru. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Héctor Chumpitaz
Peru · 1970–78 · CB
- Almanac rating
- 90
- Rank in Peru
- #2 of 33
- Caps
- 105 · 3 goals
- Clubs
- Club Universitario de Deportes, Atlas, Club Sporting Cristal
Peru's captain for the better part of fifteen years, he led an all-star Americas XI out at the Camp Nou on 31 October 1973 against Europe's best, converted the equalising penalty, and left Barcelona with the name that stuck, Capitán de América. He won the Copa América in 1975, reached the quarter-finals of the 1970 World Cup and returned in 1978, and took five Peruvian titles at Universitario and three at Sporting Cristal across 105 caps. Career record: 105 caps and 3 goals for Peru; club career at Club Universitario de Deportes, Atlas, Club Sporting Cristal.
Julio Meléndez
Peru · 1968–75 · CB
- Almanac rating
- 88
- Rank in Peru
- #7 of 33
- Caps
- 35 · 0 goals
- Clubs
- Club Atletico Defensor Lima 1931, Sport Boys, Defensor Arica
La 12 sang him his own chant at the Bombonera, y ya lo ve, es el peruano y su ballet, and Boca Juniors, who signed him in 1968, ended up putting the captain's armband on a Peruvian centre-back. Two Argentine championships in 1969 and 1970, the Copa Argentina in 1969, the Copa América with Peru in 1975, 35 caps, and a place in Boca's all-time XI. Career record: 35 caps and 0 goals for Peru; club career at Club Atletico Defensor Lima 1931, Sport Boys, Defensor Arica.
The verdict
The almanac puts Héctor Chumpitaz ahead by 2 rating points, 90 against 88.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.