Oliver Kahn vs Emmanuel Petit: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, Germany (born 1969, retired 2008) · Defensive Midfielder, France (born 1970, retired 2004)
Line up Oliver Kahn next to Emmanuel Petit and the contrasts come quickly. Both built reputations on finding the back of the net, but they did it in markedly different ways. Across his senior career Oliver Kahn notched 0 goals in 781 appearances (0.00 per game), while Emmanuel Petit recorded 45 in 500 (0.09 per game). Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Oliver Kahn is credited with 0 and Emmanuel Petit with 40. In major honours Oliver Kahn collected 18 — headlined by 1× UEFA European Championship (1996) — whereas Emmanuel Petit amassed 4, led by 1× FIFA World Cup (1998). Oliver Kahn scored with a sweeper-keen that defined his era, while Emmanuel Petit's finishing carried a silky all of its own. The wider career context matters too: Oliver Kahn peaked around 2001 after representing Karlsruher SC, Bayern Munich, while Emmanuel Petit's defining level came around 1998 across Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
179 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
German goalkeeper and 2002 World Cup Golden Ball winner; eight-time Bundesliga champion with Bayern Munich.
“An intimidating, fiery keeper whose reflexes, presence and aura won him the nickname Der Titan.”
Scorer of France's third goal in the 1998 World Cup final, Petit was a versatile, combative midfielder who completed the Premier League and FA Cup double with Arsenal that same year.
“A tall, technically sound midfielder capable of playing centre-back or holding midfield with equal composure.”
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× UEFA European Championship (1996)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2001)
- 8× Bundesliga
- 6× DFB-Pokal
- 1× UEFA Cup (1996)
- 1× Intercontinental Cup (2001)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (1998)
- 1× UEFA European Championship (2000)
- 1× Premier League (1998)
- 1× FA Cup (1998)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1987 Karlsruher SC debut
- 1994 Joined Bayern Munich
- 1996 Euro winner (as backup)
- 1999 Lost the Champions League final in stoppage time
- 2001 Champions League winner, man of the match in the final
- 2002 World Cup finalist, won the Golden Ball as best player
- 2008 Retired at Bayern Munich
- 1988 Professional debut for Monaco
- 1998 Won FIFA World Cup with Arsenal
- 1998 Won FA Cup with Arsenal
- 1998 Reached the peak of his powers at Arsenal
- 2004 Retired after a final spell at Chelsea
- Finished his career with 45 goals in 500 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 45 goals in 500 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
If forced to pick, Oliver Kahn is the choice: a clear margin, with a weightier trophy cabinet the deciding factor.
Oliver Kahn edges it (a clear margin)
