Paolo Maldini vs Gennaro Gattuso: Stats Compared
Centre-Back / Left-Back, Italy (born 1968, retired 2009) · Defensive Midfielder, Italy (born 1978, retired 2013)
Set Paolo Maldini alongside Gennaro Gattuso and the numbers start an argument of their own. Their textures on the ball are what fans actually remember, and they could hardly be more different. On production alone, Paolo Maldini posted 40 goals across 1028 appearances while Gennaro Gattuso managed 25 across 550. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Paolo Maldini is listed at 0 and Gennaro Gattuso at 20 where figures survive. Paolo Maldini departs the game with 19 major pieces of silverware, including 5× UEFA Champions League (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007); Gennaro Gattuso with 5, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2006). Paolo Maldini played with a anticipatory that made him unmistakable; Gennaro Gattuso brought a orchestrating that was equally his own. Club journeys add another layer, with Paolo Maldini reaching his representative peak around 2003 across AC Milan and Gennaro Gattuso doing so around 2007 with Perugia, Rangers, AC Milan, Sion. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
174 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
AC Milan's most decorated player, spending his entire 25-year career at the club; five-time Champions League winner.
“A composed, intelligent defender who read the game with immaculate timing across 25 seasons at Milan.”
A snarling, relentless ball-winner nicknamed 'Ringhio' (Growl), Gattuso was the combative heartbeat of AC Milan's midfield through two Champions League triumphs.
“An abrasive, high-energy defensive midfielder whose non-stop tackling and pressing shielded his more gifted teammates.”
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
- 5× UEFA Champions League (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007)
- 7× Serie A (1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004)
- 1× Coppa Italia (2003)
- 5× UEFA Super Cup
- 1× FIFA Club World Cup (2007)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2006)
- 2× UEFA Champions League (2003, 2007)
- 2× Serie A (2004, 2011)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1985 AC Milan debut aged 16
- 1988 First Scudetto with Milan
- 1989 First European Cup with Milan
- 1994 Named man of the match in the Champions League final
- 2003 Won the Champions League final at Old Trafford
- 2007 Won his fifth Champions League trophy
- 2009 Retired aged 41 after 25 seasons at Milan
- 1995 Professional debut for Perugia
- 2006 Won FIFA World Cup with AC Milan
- 2004 Won Serie A with AC Milan
- 2007 Reached the peak of his powers at AC Milan
- 2013 Retired after a final spell at Sion
- Finished his career with 25 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 25 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
Reasonable people will disagree, but Paolo Maldini wins out by a decisive margin on the weight of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Paolo Maldini edges it (a decisive margin)
