Russia against Russia. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Russia · 1949–62 · LM
Three minutes after half time in Melbourne on 8 December 1956, he scored the only goal of the Olympic final against Yugoslavia, and two years later he opened the European Championship's very first match four minutes in. Olympic gold in 1956 came with five Soviet league titles and a cup at Spartak Moscow, two league scoring crowns, and the goal that knocked England out of the 1958 World Cup. Career record: 31 caps and 16 goals for Russia; club career at Spartak Moscow; honours include 2× Hall of Fame.
Russia · 1949–59 · ST
After taking Eduard Streltsov's place in the 1956 Olympic final, he offered the young forward his gold medal, and Streltsov turned it down. Melbourne gold sat alongside the captaincy of the Soviet Union at the 1958 World Cup, four Soviet league titles and two cups with Spartak Moscow, three scoring crowns, and a club record of 160 goals that still stands. Career record: 20 caps and 10 goals for Russia; club career at FC Dinamo Sukhumi, FC Krylya Sovetov Moscow, Spartak Moscow; honours include 5× Hall of Fame (1957–2022).
The almanac puts Nikita Simonyan ahead by 2 rating points, 90 against 88.
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