Gianluigi Buffon vs Iker Casillas: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, Italy (born 1978, retired 2023) · Goalkeeper, Spain (born 1981, retired 2020)
Ask any fan to rank Gianluigi Buffon above or below Iker Casillas and you will get a passionate answer. Comparing across positions is never straightforward, and these two asked different questions of opponents. Gianluigi Buffon finishes with 1 career goals from 1147 games — a 0.00 strike rate — against Iker Casillas's 0 from 1048 at 0.00 per match. Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. Gianluigi Buffon departs the game with 15 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2006); Iker Casillas with 14, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2010). As a goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon bent the role to a sweeper-keen template; as a goalkeeper, Iker Casillas redefined it with reflex-sharp authority. Their routes to the top were distinct: Gianluigi Buffon built his reputation across Parma, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Parma, peaking around 2006, while Iker Casillas reached his defining level around 2010 after spells with Real Madrid, Porto. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
179 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Italian goalkeeper and the most capped Italian player of all time; 2006 World Cup winner and ten-time Serie A champion.
“An authoritative, athletic keeper whose longevity made him the most-capped goalkeeper in history.”
Real Madrid and Spain captain who holds the record for most caps for Spain; 2010 World Cup winner and two-time European champion.
“A brave, agile shot-stopper whose reflexes carried club and country through a golden era.”
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× FIFA World Cup (2006)
- 10× Serie A
- 2× Coppa Italia
- 1× UEFA Cup (1999)
- 1× Ligue 1 (2019)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2010)
- 2× UEFA European Championship (2008, 2012)
- 3× UEFA Champions League (2000, 2002, 2014)
- 5× La Liga
- 2× Copa del Rey
- 1× FIFA Club World Cup (2014)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1995 Parma debut
- 2001 World-record keeper transfer to Juventus
- 2003 Lost the Champions League final on penalties
- 2006 World Cup winner with Italy
- 2018 Joined Paris Saint-Germain
- 2019 Returned to Juventus
- 2023 Scored a career goal for Parma in Serie B
- 1999 Real Madrid debut aged 18
- 2000 Champions League winner, youngest keeper in a final
- 2002 Saved the World Cup final despite nearly being dropped
- 2008 Euro winner as Spain captain
- 2012 Won a third consecutive major tournament with Spain
- 2015 Left Real Madrid for Porto
- 2020 Retired after a cardiac arrest in training
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Gianluigi Buffon takes it by a narrow margin.
Gianluigi Buffon edges it (a narrow margin)
