5-6-1986, Città del Messico
ITALIA – ARGENTINA 1 – 1
Reti: 0:1 Altobelli rig. (7), 1:1 Maradona (34)
Italia: Galli, Bergomi, Vierchowod, Scirea (c), Cabrini, De Napoli (65 G. Baresi), Bagni, Di Gennaro, Conti (87 Vialli), Galderisi, Altobelli
Argentina: Pumpido, Cuciuffo, Brown, Ruggeri, Garre, Giusti, Batista (50 Olarticoechea), Burruchaga, Borghi (75 Enrique), Maradona (c), Valdano
Arbitro: Keizer (Olanda)
Portugal embarked on its third World Cup full of dreams and ambitions. Before the tournament, it was ranked fourth in the FIFA rankings, contributing to the elimination of the powerful Netherlands.
It boasted names from the golden generation that had shone at Euro 2000, and 16 years later was back in the biggest tournament in world football. The tournament started in the worst possible way, with Portugal losing 3-0 to the USA after only 30 minutes in the first round. Before halftime, Beto scored, giving the Portuguese hope, and in the second half there was an own goal, but the final result was 3-2.
In the second round, Portugal seemed like a different team, thrashing Poland 4-0 with a hat trick from Pauleta and Rui Costa scoring the fourth.
In the third round, Portugal faced the host nation, South Korea, in a very competitive match where Portugal was reduced to 10 players after a very hard tackle by João Vieira Pinto, who punched the referee in the stomach, resulting in a suspension and his last game for the national team. Before halftime, there were suspicions of a "fixed result" because Pauleta was urging the Koreans to calm down. In the second half, Portugal was again reduced to ten men with the expulsion of Beto after receiving two yellow cards, and in the 70th minute, South Korea scored the only goal of the match. Even with 9 players, Portugal still tried to score the equalizer that would have secured their qualification for the Round of 16, considering Poland was beating the USA.
The moments that still cause and continue to cause headaches are Figo's free kick and Sergio Conceição's shot hitting the post. It was a performance to forget for a national team, marking the end of an era for many.
Both are legendary players. Both possess the technical flare making them a joy to watch. Both play similar positions as the number 10. Both won the leagues they played in. Bergkamp won more in Eredivisie and Premier League. Baggio "only" won two, but in the toughest Serie A during the 90s with 2 different teams. While neither won the World Cup, they had memorable performances. Baggio carried Italy to the 94 Final, arguably greater success than what Bergkamp achieved with Netherlands. But who can forget Dennis' amazing goal against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup? Finally, they were both in Serie A in the same time once; Baggio won and Bergkamp disappointed.
Who do you like more? Who is greater? Is it enough to say it is Baggio? Let's hear it
In December 1937, heavy fog forced a match between Chelsea F.C. and Charlton Athletic F.C. to be abandoned. But Sam Bartram, Charlton’s goalkeeper, never heard the whistle and stayed at his post alone for 15 more minutes. Believing his team was still attacking, he remained focused in the dense fog, guarding the goal with complete dedication. It was only when a policeman approached him that he realized the game had long been stopped. One of football’s most unforgettable stories of focus, loyalty, and isolation.
1950s:
Sandor Kocsis- 1952, 1954 (in Hungary league level but also internationally at the World Cup)
Ferenc Puskas - 1953, 1960 (in Hungary league level but also internationally at the World Cup)
1960s:
Pele- 1957, 1958, 1959 (127 non-pen G+A), 1960, 1961 (102 non-pen G+A), 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 (9 seasons)
1970s:
Cruyff- 1969, 1971
Gerd Muller- 1970, 1971, 1972 (101 non-pen G+A in a Top 5 league, one that dominated world football)- HE HAS THE NON-PENALTY RECORD IN TOP FOOTBALL IF YOU DON'T COUNT PELE'S BRAZIL STATE MATCHES
1980s:
Zico- 1979, 1981, 1982 (in Brazil level)
(Platini and van Basten came close, but not there)
1990s:
R9- 1997
Romario- 2000 (although by now Brazil league was not at the top of football, more like Portugal mid level)
2000s:
Henry- 2003
Dzeko- 2009
2010s:
Messi- 2010, 2011, 2012 (99 non-penalty G+A in a Top 5 league), 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
Cristiano- 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Suarez- 2010 (80+ but in a weaker Netherlands league), 2015, 2016 (81 G+A in a top league)
Neymar- 2012, 2013 (in Brazil level)
Ibrahimovic- 2016 (in Ligue 1 level)
Sterling- 2019
Lewandowski- 2020, 2021
2020s:
Mbappe- 2021, 2022 (in Ligue 1 level)
There are also 3 players who went over the 60 non-pen G+A mark if you look at it through season not calendar year: Salah in 17/18, Haaland un 22/23, Raphinha in 24/25. This season Michael Olise has 51 non-pen goal contributions so far and still has a few matches at club level and national team.
I believe not many people knew about Dzeko and Sterling having made those numbers!
Out if the 18 players above with more than 60 non-pen contributions in a calendar year:
5 are from Brazil (Pele, Zico, R9, Romario, Neymar), a region with 200+ million people
4 are from Eastern Europe!! (Sandor Kocsis, Ferenc Puskas, Dzeko, Lewandowski, we should actually add Ibrahimovic too cause his genealogy is from there), a region with only around 150 million inhabitants, comparable in players with Brazil
Others are from France (Henry, Mbappe), Germany (G Muller), England (Sterling), Portugal (Cristiano), Netherlands (Cruyff), Argentina (Messi), Uruguay (Suarez).
Both are amazing scorers, classic no 9 strikers. Both did not have a lot of team successes. Batistuta won the league once with Roma at an older age, even though his heart belonged to Fiorentina. Shearer also won the league once with Blackburn at a younger age. But he is almost too loyal to Newcastle. Both had good performances for their countries, even played against each other at the 1998 World Cup (decided by penalty).
Who was better, if you must compare them?
BRAZIL:NEW ZEALAND 4:0
Estadio Benito Villamarín, Sevilla
23.06.1982
