Gianluigi Buffon vs David Luiz: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, Italy (born 1978, retired 2023) · Centre-Back, Brazil (born 1987, retired 2023)
Gianluigi Buffon against David Luiz is the kind of comparison that fuels pub arguments for hours. Their jobs on the pitch were not the same, yet both redefined what their role could be. Career output puts Gianluigi Buffon at 1 goals in 1147 games, with David Luiz at 35 in 650. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Gianluigi Buffon is listed at 0 and David Luiz at 25 where figures survive. Gianluigi Buffon departs the game with 15 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2006); David Luiz with 6, including 1× UEFA Champions League (2012). The goalkeeper duties of Gianluigi Buffon leaned imposing; the centre-back responsibilities of David Luiz leaned elegant. Club journeys add another layer, with Gianluigi Buffon reaching his representative peak around 2006 across Parma, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Parma and David Luiz doing so around 2013 with Vitória, Benfica, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Arsenal, Flamengo. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
171 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.”
An eccentric, unpredictable Brazilian centre-back famed for his wild hairstyles and thunderous free-kicks, David Luiz won trophies across three major European leagues.
“An unorthodox, high-risk centre-back who combined bold attacking instincts and a huge shot with occasionally erratic positioning.”
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× UEFA Champions League (2012)
- 2× UEFA Europa League (2013, 2019)
- 2× Premier League (2015, 2017)
- 1× FA Cup (2018)
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
- 2006 Professional debut for Vitória
- 2012 Won UEFA Champions League with Chelsea
- 2018 Won FA Cup with Chelsea
- 2013 Reached the peak of his powers at Chelsea
- 2023 Retired after a final spell at Flamengo
- Finished his career with 35 goals in 650 appearances and 6 major honours. Finished his career with 35 goals in 650 appearances and 6 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Gianluigi Buffon the lead — a clear margin, courtesy of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Gianluigi Buffon edges it (a clear margin)
