Deco vs Fernando Redondo: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Portugal (born 1977, retired 2013) · Defensive Midfielder, Argentina (born 1969, retired 2004)
Deco against Fernando Redondo is the kind of comparison that fuels pub arguments for hours. Goals are the coldest, hardest metric in football, and both players stockedpile them. The raw numbers read 90 goals in 550 outings for Deco (0.16/game), versus 30 in 450 for Fernando Redondo (0.07/game). Creativity tells a story too: 100 assists for Deco against 60 for Fernando Redondo. The honours ledger favours Deco with 5 major trophies (2× UEFA Champions League (2004, 2006)) against Fernando Redondo's 5 (2× La Liga (1995, 1997)). Where Deco was a dictatorial presence in the box, Fernando Redondo offered a dictatorial approach to goalscoring. Club journeys add another layer, with Deco reaching his representative peak around 2004 across Nacional, Porto, Barcelona, Chelsea, Fluminense and Fernando Redondo doing so around 1998 with Argentinos Juniors, Real Madrid, AC Milan. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
152 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
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 supremely elegant defensive midfielder famed for his flowing hair and a single backheel that became one of the sport's most replayed pieces of skill.
“An elegant, deep-lying playmaker who shielded the defence while dictating play with effortless long passing.”
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)
- 2× La Liga (1995, 1997)
- 2× UEFA Champions League (1998, 2000)
- 1× Intercontinental Cup (1998)
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.
- 1987 Professional debut for Argentinos Juniors
- 1995 Won La Liga with Real Madrid
- 1998 Won Intercontinental Cup with Real Madrid
- 1998 Reached the peak of his powers at Real Madrid
- 2004 Retired after a final spell at AC Milan
- Finished his career with 30 goals in 450 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 30 goals in 450 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
Reasonable people will disagree, but Fernando Redondo wins out by a narrow margin on the weight of consistency at the very highest level.
Fernando Redondo edges it (a narrow margin)
