Roger Milla vs Per Mertesacker: Stats Compared
Striker, Cameroon (born 1952, retired 1994) · Centre-Back, Germany (born 1984, retired 2018)
Comparing Roger Milla with Per Mertesacker means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Legacy is the only real measure that outlives the numbers, and both have staked towering claims. Across his senior career Roger Milla notched 150 goals in 400 appearances (0.38 per game), while Per Mertesacker recorded 15 in 550 (0.03 per game). Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Roger Milla is credited with 0 and Per Mertesacker with 5. Trophy counts give Roger Milla 3 and Per Mertesacker 4, with 2× Africa Cup of Nations (1984, 1988) and 1× FIFA World Cup (2014) the standout honours respectively. History will file Roger Milla under explosive greatness and Per Mertesacker under anticipatory greatness — different shelves, same temple. Their routes to the top were distinct: Roger Milla built his reputation across Union Douala, Valenciennes, Monaco, Bastia, Saint-Étienne, Montpellier, JS Kabylie, peaking around 1990, while Per Mertesacker reached his defining level around 2014 after spells with Hannover 96, Werder Bremen, Arsenal. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
188 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.”
A towering, calm German centre-back nicknamed 'BFG' by Arsenal fans, Mertesacker started every match of Germany's triumphant 2014 World Cup campaign.
“A commanding, positionally intelligent centre-back whose reading of the game compensated for a lack of raw pace.”
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× FIFA World Cup (2014)
- 3× FA Cup (2014, 2015, 2017)
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.
- 2001 Professional debut for Hannover 96
- 2014 Won FIFA World Cup with Arsenal
- 2014 Won FA Cup with Arsenal
- 2014 Reached the peak of his powers at Arsenal
- 2018 Retired after a final spell at Arsenal
- Finished his career with 15 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 15 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
Weighing production, silverware and profile, the two finish within a whisker of each other. Call it a respectful draw — greatness of this calibre resists a single winner.
Too close to call — a respectful draw
