Kaká vs David James: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Brazil (born 1982, retired 2017) · Goalkeeper, England (born 1970, retired 2014)
Few debates split football fans quite like Kaká versus David James. Both built reputations on finding the back of the net, but they did it in markedly different ways. Kaká finishes with 237 career goals from 594 games — a 0.40 strike rate — against David James's 0 from 850 at 0.00 per match. Reliable assist tallies simply do not exist for large stretches of their careers, leaving creativity to the eye rather than the spreadsheet. Kaká departs the game with 6 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2002); David James with 1, including 1× FA Cup (2008). Where Kaká was a incisive presence in the box, David James offered a reflex-sharp approach to goalscoring. The wider career context matters too: Kaká peaked around 2007 after representing São Paulo, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Orlando City, while David James's defining level came around 2005 across Watford, Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham United, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Bristol City, Bournemouth. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
170 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
Brazilian attacking midfielder and 2007 Ballon d'Or winner; Champions League winner with AC Milan in 2007.
“A tall, graceful attacking midfielder who glided past defenders and finished with precision.”
The Premier League's most-capped goalkeeper at the time of his retirement, James was renowned for his shot-stopping and occasional highlight-reel errors across a two-decade top-flight career.
“An athletic, agile shot-stopper whose reflexes and command of his box made him a mainstay of English goalkeeping for two decades.”
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 (2002)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2007)
- 2× FIFA Confederations Cup (2005, 2009)
- 1× Serie A (2004)
- 1× La Liga (2012)
- 1× FA Cup (2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2001 São Paulo breakthrough
- 2002 World Cup winner (limited role)
- 2003 Signed for AC Milan
- 2005 Lost the Champions League final in Istanbul
- 2007 Champions League winner and Ballon d'Or winner
- 2009 Record transfer to Real Madrid
- 2017 Retired at Orlando City
- 1988 Professional debut for Watford
- 2008 Won FA Cup with Portsmouth
- 2005 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester City
- 2014 Retired after a final spell at Bournemouth
- Finished his career with 0 goals in 850 appearances and 1 major honours. Finished his career with 0 goals in 850 appearances and 1 major honours.
The verdict
Reasonable people will disagree, but Kaká wins out by a decisive margin on the weight of a sharper goalscoring record.
Kaká edges it (a decisive margin)
