Over 670,000 Eurosport.com users have voted for the player of the 1990s, with nearly all selecting Gheorghe Hagi or Hristo Stoichkov. Our extraordinary poll has captured the imagination of the Romanian and Bulgarian publics, with television and newspapers urging people to support their heroes.
The sheer volume of interest has even caused some technical problems here at Eurosport.com, with the poll seemingly stuck on 409,149 votes.
Don't worry, your votes were all counted and the poll is back in action, with the total 'electorate' now surging towards the million mark.
As things stand, the Romanian genius Hagi holds a slim lead.
Hagi was known as the 'Maradona of the Carpathians' because of his left-footed wizardry, but displayed a career longevity to put the Argentine legend to shame.
125 appearances for Romania yielded 35 goals and a string of dazzling performances, not least at the 1994 World Cup where he, like Stoichkov, put his country's football well and truly on the map.
He also spent productive spells at Real Madrid and Barcelona, before a trophy-filled stint at Galatasaray. The Turkish giants won four titles back-to-back between 1997 and 2000, along with two cups and the UEFA Cup.
Gala's penalty shootout victory was bittersweet for Hagi, sent off early in extra time.
Now coach of Bulgaria's national team, Stoichkov is unquestionably his country's finest ever player.
Stoichkov's greatest years came between 1990-94 when he inspired Barcelona to the Liga title in each of his four seasons at the club.
He followed this up with an astounding performance at the 1994 World Cup in the USA, taking the unfancied Bulgarians - who had never before gained so much as a point in the World Cup - to the semi-finals.
Stoichkov's six goals made him the tournament's top scorer, and he completed the year scooping the prestigious France Football Ballon d'Or for his feats for club and country.
The other players in the poll - Gabriel Batistuta, Paolo Maldini, Romario and Peter Schmeichel - have been virtually ignored.
Go and vote y'all!
The sheer volume of interest has even caused some technical problems here at Eurosport.com, with the poll seemingly stuck on 409,149 votes.
Don't worry, your votes were all counted and the poll is back in action, with the total 'electorate' now surging towards the million mark.
As things stand, the Romanian genius Hagi holds a slim lead.
Hagi was known as the 'Maradona of the Carpathians' because of his left-footed wizardry, but displayed a career longevity to put the Argentine legend to shame.
125 appearances for Romania yielded 35 goals and a string of dazzling performances, not least at the 1994 World Cup where he, like Stoichkov, put his country's football well and truly on the map.
He also spent productive spells at Real Madrid and Barcelona, before a trophy-filled stint at Galatasaray. The Turkish giants won four titles back-to-back between 1997 and 2000, along with two cups and the UEFA Cup.
Gala's penalty shootout victory was bittersweet for Hagi, sent off early in extra time.
Now coach of Bulgaria's national team, Stoichkov is unquestionably his country's finest ever player.
Stoichkov's greatest years came between 1990-94 when he inspired Barcelona to the Liga title in each of his four seasons at the club.
He followed this up with an astounding performance at the 1994 World Cup in the USA, taking the unfancied Bulgarians - who had never before gained so much as a point in the World Cup - to the semi-finals.
Stoichkov's six goals made him the tournament's top scorer, and he completed the year scooping the prestigious France Football Ballon d'Or for his feats for club and country.
The other players in the poll - Gabriel Batistuta, Paolo Maldini, Romario and Peter Schmeichel - have been virtually ignored.
Go and vote y'all!
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