Adriano vs Per Mertesacker: Stats Compared
Striker, Brazil (born 1982, retired 2016) · Centre-Back, Germany (born 1984, retired 2018)
Adriano and Per Mertesacker represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? Goals are the coldest, hardest metric in football, and both players stockedpile them. The raw numbers read 190 goals in 400 outings for Adriano (0.48/game), versus 15 in 550 for Per Mertesacker (0.03/game). The assist columns read 30 for Adriano and 5 for Per Mertesacker where the record exists. In major honours Adriano collected 4 — headlined by 1× Copa América (2004) — whereas Per Mertesacker amassed 4, led by 1× FIFA World Cup (2014). Adriano scored with a ruthless that defined his era, while Per Mertesacker's finishing carried a uncompromising all of its own. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Adriano's landmark level arrived around 2005 with a career spanning Flamengo, Internazionale, São Paulo, Flamengo, Corinthians, Miami United; Per Mertesacker's came around 2014 across Hannover 96, Werder Bremen, Arsenal. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
158 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
Nicknamed 'The Emperor', Adriano was briefly considered the best striker in the world in the mid-2000s, combining brute power with surprising technique before injuries and personal struggles derailed his career.
“An immensely powerful striker whose combination of strength, pace and a ferocious shot made him briefly unplayable.”
A towering, calm German centre-back nicknamed 'BFG' by Arsenal fans, Mertesacker started every match of Germany's triumphant 2014 World Cup campaign.
“A commanding, positionally intelligent centre-back whose reading of the game compensated for a lack of raw pace.”
Head-to-head stats
Career goals by season
Representative career seasons — goals per season for each player across their documented clubs.
Attribute radar
Attribute ratings are peak-era, 0–100. Different positions naturally skew the profile.
Attribute comparison
Trophy breakdown
- 1× Copa América (2004)
- 1× FIFA Confederations Cup (2005)
- 2× Serie A (2007, 2008)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2014)
- 3× FA Cup (2014, 2015, 2017)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2000 Professional debut for Flamengo
- 2004 Won Copa América with Internazionale
- 2007 Won Serie A with Internazionale
- 2005 Reached the peak of his powers at Internazionale
- 2016 Retired after a final spell at Miami United
- Finished his career with 190 goals in 400 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 190 goals in 400 appearances and 4 major honours.
- 2001 Professional debut for Hannover 96
- 2014 Won FIFA World Cup with Arsenal
- 2014 Won FA Cup with Arsenal
- 2014 Reached the peak of his powers at Arsenal
- 2018 Retired after a final spell at Arsenal
- Finished his career with 15 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 15 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Adriano takes it by a clear margin.
Adriano edges it (a clear margin)
