Roger Milla vs Adriano: Stats Compared
Striker, Cameroon (born 1952, retired 1994) · Striker, Brazil (born 1982, retired 2016)
Line up Roger Milla next to Adriano and the contrasts come quickly. Long after the final whistle, what lingers is influence, and each man reshaped his corner of the game. Career output puts Roger Milla at 150 goals in 400 games, with Adriano at 190 in 400. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Roger Milla is listed at 0 and Adriano at 30 where figures survive. Roger Milla departs the game with 3 major pieces of silverware, including 2× Africa Cup of Nations (1984, 1988); Adriano with 4, including 1× Copa América (2004). Their legacies diverge in texture: Roger Milla is remembered as explosive, Adriano as predatory. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Roger Milla's landmark level arrived around 1990 with a career spanning Union Douala, Valenciennes, Monaco, Bastia, Saint-Étienne, Montpellier, JS Kabylie; Adriano's came around 2005 across Flamengo, Internazionale, São Paulo, Flamengo, Corinthians, Miami United. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
168 words · comparison angle: legacy
Player profiles
The exuberant hero of Cameroon's 1990 World Cup run, Milla became the oldest World Cup goalscorer at 42 and made his corner-flag dance world famous.
“A joyful, clever striker whose sharp movement and composure produced decisive goals late into his career.”
Nicknamed 'The Emperor', Adriano was briefly considered the best striker in the world in the mid-2000s, combining brute power with surprising technique before injuries and personal struggles derailed his career.
“An immensely powerful striker whose combination of strength, pace and a ferocious shot made him briefly unplayable.”
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
- 2× Africa Cup of Nations (1984, 1988)
- 1× Coupe de France (1981)
- 1× Copa América (2004)
- 1× FIFA Confederations Cup (2005)
- 2× Serie A (2007, 2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1974 Professional debut for Union Douala
- 1984 Won Africa Cup of Nations with Monaco
- 1981 Won Coupe de France with Monaco
- 1990 Reached the peak of his powers at Montpellier
- 1994 Retired after a final spell at JS Kabylie
- Finished his career with 150 goals in 400 appearances and 3 major honours. Finished his career with 150 goals in 400 appearances and 3 major honours.
- 2000 Professional debut for Flamengo
- 2004 Won Copa América with Internazionale
- 2007 Won Serie A with Internazionale
- 2005 Reached the peak of his powers at Internazionale
- 2016 Retired after a final spell at Miami United
- Finished his career with 190 goals in 400 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 190 goals in 400 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Adriano takes it by a clear margin.
Adriano edges it (a clear margin)
