Firas Al-Khatib vs Mahmoud Al-Mawas
Syria against Syria. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Firas Al-Khatib
Syria · 2001–19 · SS
- Almanac rating
- 85
- Rank in Syria
- #3 of 33
- Caps
- 51 · 26 goals
- Clubs
- Al-Karamah SC, Al-Arabi SC, Shanghai Shenhua
A week after his debut he scored in Syria's 9-0 win over Laos on 11 May 2001, and eighteen years later, on 5 September 2019 against the Philippines, he became the first Asian to play in six World Cup qualifying campaigns. He remains Syria's record scorer with 36 goals in 72 caps, and in Kuwait he won four league titles, six Emir Cups and four golden boots, the last with 23 goals in 2015-16. Career record: 51 caps and 26 goals for Syria; club career at Al-Karamah SC, Al-Arabi SC, Shanghai Shenhua.
Mahmoud Al-Mawas
Syria · 2021–25 · RM
- Almanac rating
- 80
- Rank in Syria
- #7 of 33
- Caps
- 88 · 15 goals
- Clubs
- Riffa S.C., Umm Salal SC, FC Botoșani
Twenty-two goals in the 2021-22 season made him the first foreigner ever to finish as top scorer in the Iraqi league, and Baghdad kept him at Al-Shorta for five years. He has 110 caps and 18 goals for Syria, including a hat-trick against the Maldives in June 2021, and at club level four straight Iraqi league titles from 2021 to 2025, the 2023-24 Iraq FA Cup, and Player of the Season in 2023-24. Career record: 88 caps and 15 goals for Syria; club career at Riffa S.C., Umm Salal SC, FC Botoșani.
The verdict
The almanac puts Firas Al-Khatib ahead by 5 rating points, 85 against 80.
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