Gianluigi Buffon vs Predrag Mijatović: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, Italy (born 1978, retired 2023) · Striker, Yugoslavia (born 1969, retired 2004)
Gianluigi Buffon versus Predrag Mijatović is a clash of two unmistakable footballing identities. Separated by their years at the top, each defined the football of their own generation. The raw numbers read 1 goals in 1147 outings for Gianluigi Buffon (0.00/game), versus 210 in 500 for Predrag Mijatović (0.42/game). Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Gianluigi Buffon is credited with 0 and Predrag Mijatović with 30. The honours ledger favours Gianluigi Buffon with 15 major trophies (1× FIFA World Cup (2006)) against Predrag Mijatović's 2 (1× UEFA Champions League (1998)). Across the turn of the millennium and the 1990s respectively, their sweeper-keen and predatory styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. Their routes to the top were distinct: Gianluigi Buffon built his reputation across Parma, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Parma, peaking around 2006, while Predrag Mijatović reached his defining level around 1998 after spells with Budućnost Podgorica, Partizan, Valencia CF, Real Madrid, Fiorentina, Levante. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
180 words · comparison angle: era
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.”
Mijatović's decisive winning goal in the 1998 Champions League final ended Real Madrid's 32-year wait for the European Cup and remains one of the club's most iconic moments.
“A clever, mobile striker whose intelligent runs in behind and composed finishing produced goals in the biggest moments.”
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 (1998)
- 1× La Liga (1997)
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
- 1986 Professional debut for Budućnost Podgorica
- 1998 Won UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid
- 1997 Won La Liga with Real Madrid
- 1998 Reached the peak of his powers at Real Madrid
- 2004 Retired after a final spell at Levante
- Finished his career with 210 goals in 500 appearances and 2 major honours. Finished his career with 210 goals in 500 appearances and 2 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Gianluigi Buffon the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Gianluigi Buffon edges it (a decisive margin)
