Diego Maradona vs Arjen Robben: Stats Compared
Forward / Playmaker, Argentina (born 1960, retired 1997) · Right Winger, Netherlands (born 1984, retired 2019)
The Diego Maradona–Arjen Robben comparison is one of those fixtures of footballing folklore. Honours are what separate great players from trophy-laden legends, and both qualify. The raw numbers read 293 goals in 582 outings for Diego Maradona (0.50/game), versus 246 in 614 for Arjen Robben (0.40/game). Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. Trophy counts give Diego Maradona 6 and Arjen Robben 9, with 1× FIFA World Cup (1986) and 1× UEFA Champions League (2013) the standout honours respectively. Diego Maradona built his medal haul through years of clinical consistency, while Arjen Robben won his with clinical bursts of brilliance. Their routes to the top were distinct: Diego Maradona built his reputation across Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, Newell's Old Boys, peaking around 1986, while Arjen Robben reached his defining level around 2013 after spells with PSV, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Groningen. Arguments will run and run, which is exactly why the matchup endures.
172 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
Argentine legend who almost single-handedly led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup and transformed Napoli into Italian and European contenders.
“A low-centre-of-gravity left-footed genius whose dribbling and playmaking carried teams single-handedly.”
Arjen Robben is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a winger. Known for his dribbling skills, speed, and long-range shots, he is regarded as one of the best players of his generation and one of the greatest wingers of all time. He ranks second for the all-time Dutch top goalscorers (32) in the UEFA Champions League and is the all-time Dutch top assist provider (19) in the competition.
“A devastating inverted winger whose cut inside and left-foot finish became a signature.”
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 (1986)
- 1× UEFA Cup (1989)
- 2× Serie A (1987, 1990)
- 1× Copa Italia (1987)
- 1× Argentine Primera División (1981)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2013)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1976 Argentinos Juniors debut ten days before his 16th birthday
- 1981 Joined Boca Juniors and won the Argentine league
- 1982 World-record transfer to Barcelona
- 1984 Signed for Napoli for another world-record fee
- 1987 Led Napoli to their first ever Serie A title
- 1990 Captained Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup final
- 1997 Played his final professional matches at Boca Juniors
- 2005 Established himself at PSV
- 2009 Reached his defining peak
- 2013 Delivered a landmark season
- 2019 Retired from professional football
The verdict
If forced to pick, Diego Maradona is the choice: a clear margin, with a sharper goalscoring record the deciding factor.
Diego Maradona edges it (a clear margin)
