Daniele De Rossi vs Careca: Stats Compared
Central Midfielder, Italy (born 1983, retired 2019) · Striker, Brazil (born 1960, retired 1994)
Comparing Daniele De Rossi with Careca means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. It is in how they played, rather than what they won, that the comparison gets interesting. The raw numbers read 65 goals in 700 outings for Daniele De Rossi (0.09/game), versus 300 in 600 for Careca (0.50/game). Creativity tells a story too: 60 assists for Daniele De Rossi against 30 for Careca. Trophy counts give Daniele De Rossi 3 and Careca 4, with 1× FIFA World Cup (2006) and 2× Serie A (1987, 1990) the standout honours respectively. Stylistically Daniele De Rossi was creative where Careca was explosive — two vocabularies of the same sport. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Daniele De Rossi's landmark level arrived around 2013 with a career spanning Roma; Careca's came around 1988 across Guarani, São Paulo, Napoli, Kashima Antlers. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
150 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
A one-club legend and 2006 World Cup winner, De Rossi embodied Roma's midfield for nearly two decades, combining ferocious tackling with a superb range of passing.
“A commanding, technically excellent deep-lying midfielder who mixed hard tackling with elegant long-range distribution.”
Diego Maradona's strike partner at Napoli, Careca formed one of Serie A's most feared attacking duos, helping the club to its first two Scudetti.
“A sharp, technically excellent striker whose close combination play and clinical finishing perfectly complemented a more individualist strike partner.”
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)
- 2× Coppa Italia (2007, 2008)
- 2× Serie A (1987, 1990)
- 1× UEFA Cup (1989)
- 1× Coppa Italia (1987)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2001 Professional debut for Roma
- 2006 Won FIFA World Cup with Roma
- 2007 Won Coppa Italia with Roma
- 2013 Reached the peak of his powers at Roma
- 2019 Retired after a final spell at Roma
- Finished his career with 65 goals in 700 appearances and 3 major honours. Finished his career with 65 goals in 700 appearances and 3 major honours.
- 1978 Professional debut for Guarani
- 1987 Won Serie A with São Paulo
- 1987 Won Coppa Italia with São Paulo
- 1988 Reached the peak of his powers at Napoli
- 1994 Retired after a final spell at Kashima Antlers
- Finished his career with 300 goals in 600 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 300 goals in 600 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
On balance Daniele De Rossi edges the comparison. The margin is a narrow margin, decided mostly by a stronger all-round attribute profile.
Daniele De Rossi edges it (a narrow margin)
