Miroslav Klose vs David Luiz: Stats Compared
Striker, Germany (born 1978, retired 2016) · Centre-Back, Brazil (born 1987, retired 2023)
Few debates split football fans quite like Miroslav Klose versus David Luiz. Both built reputations on finding the back of the net, but they did it in markedly different ways. Career output puts Miroslav Klose at 318 goals in 705 games, with David Luiz at 35 in 650. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Miroslav Klose is credited with 0 and David Luiz with 25. Miroslav Klose departs the game with 7 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2014); David Luiz with 6, including 1× UEFA Champions League (2012). Miroslav Klose scored with a predatory that defined his era, while David Luiz's finishing carried a rugged all of its own. Their routes to the top were distinct: Miroslav Klose built his reputation across Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich, Lazio, peaking around 2014, while David Luiz reached his defining level around 2013 after spells with Vitória, Benfica, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Arsenal, Flamengo. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
182 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
All-time FIFA World Cup top scorer with 16 goals; Germany's all-time leading goalscorer with 71 international goals.
“A selfless striker and aerial specialist whose consistency made him a World Cup great.”
An eccentric, unpredictable Brazilian centre-back famed for his wild hairstyles and thunderous free-kicks, David Luiz won trophies across three major European leagues.
“An unorthodox, high-risk centre-back who combined bold attacking instincts and a huge shot with occasionally erratic positioning.”
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 (2014)
- 2× Bundesliga (2008, 2010)
- 3× DFB-Pokal (2005, 2008, 2010)
- 1× Coppa Italia (2013)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2012)
- 2× UEFA Europa League (2013, 2019)
- 2× Premier League (2015, 2017)
- 1× FA Cup (2018)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2000 Kaiserslautern debut
- 2002 World Cup debut, scored five headed goals
- 2007 Joined Bayern Munich
- 2011 Joined Lazio, won over fans with relentless work rate
- 2014 World Cup winner, became the all-time World Cup top scorer (16 goals)
- 2016 Retired at Lazio
- 2006 Professional debut for Vitória
- 2012 Won UEFA Champions League with Chelsea
- 2018 Won FA Cup with Chelsea
- 2013 Reached the peak of his powers at Chelsea
- 2023 Retired after a final spell at Flamengo
- Finished his career with 35 goals in 650 appearances and 6 major honours. Finished his career with 35 goals in 650 appearances and 6 major honours.
The verdict
Weighing production against honours, Miroslav Klose takes the verdict — a narrow margin, driven by a sharper goalscoring record.
Miroslav Klose edges it (a narrow margin)
