Deco vs Per Mertesacker: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Portugal (born 1977, retired 2013) · Centre-Back, Germany (born 1984, retired 2018)
Ask any fan to rank Deco above or below Per Mertesacker and you will get a passionate answer. Trophies, more than goals, are how most supporters ultimately remember a career. By the end Deco had 90 goals from 550 caps and club outings; Per Mertesacker had 15 from 550. In chance creation, Deco tallied 100 assists to Per Mertesacker's 5. In major honours Deco collected 5 — headlined by 2× UEFA Champions League (2004, 2006) — whereas Per Mertesacker amassed 4, led by 1× FIFA World Cup (2014). One lifted trophies through silky reliability, the other through elegant moments that decided finals. Club journeys add another layer, with Deco reaching his representative peak around 2004 across Nacional, Porto, Barcelona, Chelsea, Fluminense and Per Mertesacker doing so around 2014 with Hannover 96, Werder Bremen, Arsenal. That makes the numbers a starting point rather than a final answer, because role, opposition, tactical demands and longevity all shaped what each could produce. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
171 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
A Brazilian-born playmaker who became a Portugal icon, Deco won the UEFA Cup and Champions League with Porto before repeating the European triumph at Barcelona two years later.
“A quick-thinking, tenacious playmaker who combined physical durability with excellent vision and set-piece delivery.”
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
- 2× UEFA Champions League (2004, 2006)
- 1× UEFA Cup (2003)
- 2× La Liga (2005, 2006)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2014)
- 3× FA Cup (2014, 2015, 2017)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1997 Professional debut for Nacional
- 2004 Won UEFA Champions League with Porto
- 2005 Won La Liga with Barcelona
- 2004 Reached the peak of his powers at Porto
- 2013 Retired after a final spell at Fluminense
- Finished his career with 90 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 90 goals in 550 appearances and 5 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
If forced to pick, Deco is the choice: a decisive margin, with a sharper goalscoring record the deciding factor.
Deco edges it (a decisive margin)
