Diego Forlán vs Obdulio Varela
Uruguay against Uruguay. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Diego Forlán
Uruguay · 2005–10 · SS
- Almanac rating
- 90
- Rank in Uruguay
- #9 of 33
- Caps
- 112 · 36 goals
- Clubs
- Club Atlético Independiente, Villarreal CF, Atlético Madrid
- Honours
- European Golden Shoe 2005 · Hall of Fame 2012
On 2 July 2010 in Johannesburg, with Uruguay a goal down to Ghana in the quarter-final, Forlán bent a free kick over the wall and into the corner, and Uruguay went through on penalties. He took the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player with five goals, won the Copa América a year later, and had already scored both goals in Atlético Madrid's 2010 Europa League final win over Fulham, adding European Golden Shoes in 2005 and 2009. Career record: 112 caps and 36 goals for Uruguay; club career at Club Atlético Independiente, Villarreal CF, Atlético Madrid; honours include European Golden Shoe 2005, Hall of Fame 2012.
Obdulio Varela
Uruguay · 1942–50 · CB
- Almanac rating
- 91
- Rank in Uruguay
- #8 of 33
- Caps
- 45 · 9 goals
- Clubs
- Montevideo Wanderers Fútbol Club, Club Atlético Peñarol
After Friaça put Brazil ahead at the Maracanã on 16 July 1950, Varela tucked the ball under his arm and walked to referee George Reader to argue an offside he later admitted never existed, buying the minutes it took the stadium to fall silent. Uruguay won that final 2-1, and El Negro Jefe had already been named best player of the 1942 South American Championship, adding six Uruguayan titles with Peñarol. Career record: 45 caps and 9 goals for Uruguay; club career at Montevideo Wanderers Fútbol Club, Club Atlético Peñarol.
The verdict
The almanac puts Obdulio Varela ahead by 1 rating point, 91 against 90.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.