Garrincha vs Pavel Nedvěd: Stats Compared
Right Winger, Brazil (born 1933, retired 1972) · Midfielder, Czech Republic (born 1972, retired 2009)
Garrincha against Pavel Nedvěd is the kind of comparison that fuels pub arguments for hours. Greatness, in the end, is about who you inspired, and both left a footprint far beyond their own careers. By the end Garrincha had 245 goals from 612 caps and club outings; Pavel Nedvěd had 156 from 711. Reliable assist tallies simply do not exist for large stretches of their careers, leaving creativity to the eye rather than the spreadsheet. Trophy counts give Garrincha 9 and Pavel Nedvěd 9, with 2× FIFA World Cup (1958, 1962) and 1× UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1999) the standout honours respectively. History will file Garrincha under flair-driven greatness and Pavel Nedvěd under creative greatness — different shelves, same temple. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Garrincha's landmark level arrived around 1962 with a career spanning Botafogo, Corinthians, Flamengo; Pavel Nedvěd's came around 2003 across Dukla Prague, Sparta Prague, Lazio, Juventus. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
162 words · comparison angle: legacy
Player profiles
Manuel Francisco dos Santos (28 October 1933 – 20 January 1983), nicknamed Mané Garrincha, best known as simply Garrincha, was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a right winger. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and by many, one of the greatest dribblers ever. Garrincha played a vital role in Brazil's 1958 and 1962 World Cup victories.
“A joyful dribbler whose balance and feints made the right flank his personal stage.”
Czech midfielder and 2003 Ballon d'Or winner; Serie A champion with Lazio and Juventus.
“A tireless attacking midfielder with explosive shooting from distance and endless running.”
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× FIFA World Cup (1958, 1962)
- 1× UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1999)
- 1× UEFA Super Cup (1999)
- 3× Serie A (2000, 2002, 2003)
- 2× Coppa Italia (1998, 2000)
- 2× Supercoppa Italiana (2002, 2003)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1954 Established himself at Botafogo
- 1958 Reached his defining peak
- 1962 Delivered a landmark season
- 1972 Retired from professional football
- 1991 Dukla Prague debut
- 1996 Joined Lazio
- 1999 Won the Cup Winners' Cup with Lazio
- 2001 Joined Juventus as Zidane's replacement
- 2003 Ballon d'Or winner, reached the Champions League final
- 2005 Stayed at Juventus in Serie B after Calciopoli
- 2009 Retired at Juventus
The verdict
On balance Pavel Nedvěd edges the comparison. The margin is a decisive margin, decided mostly by a stronger all-round attribute profile.
Pavel Nedvěd edges it (a decisive margin)
