Mesut Özil vs Rudi Völler: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Germany (born 1988, retired 2023) · Striker, Germany (born 1960, retired 1996)
Mesut Özil and Rudi Völler represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? Position shapes everything in football, and these two fulfilled very different briefs. Across his senior career Mesut Özil notched 114 goals in 645 appearances (0.18 per game), while Rudi Völler recorded 220 in 480 (0.46 per game). Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. Mesut Özil departs the game with 8 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2014); Rudi Völler with 3, including 1× FIFA World Cup (1990). The attacking midfielder duties of Mesut Özil leaned incisive; the striker responsibilities of Rudi Völler leaned flair-driven. Their routes to the top were distinct: Mesut Özil built his reputation across Schalke, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Fenerbahçe, peaking around 2012, while Rudi Völler reached his defining level around 1990 after spells with Kickers Offenbach, Werder Bremen, Roma, Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
176 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Mesut Özil is a German former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Known for his ball control, technical skills, creativity, passing skills, and vision, he is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation. Born and raised in Gelsenkirchen, Özil began his senior club career playing for hometown club Schalke 04, before signing with Werder Bremen in 2008, aged 19.
“A left-footed chance creator whose weight of pass and scanning made assists look effortless.”
A stylish, quick German striker best remembered for his acrobatic assist to Andreas Brehme's decisive touch and clinical finishing that fired West Germany to the 1990 World Cup.
“A mobile, technically gifted striker with a flair for delicate flicks and precise, first-time finishing.”
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)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (1990)
- 1× Coppa Italia (1991)
- 1× Ligue 1 (1993)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2004 Established himself at Schalke
- 2008 Reached his defining peak
- 2012 Delivered a landmark season
- 2023 Retired from professional football
- 1977 Professional debut for Kickers Offenbach
- 1990 Won FIFA World Cup with Roma
- 1993 Won Ligue 1 with Marseille
- 1990 Reached the peak of his powers at Roma
- 1996 Retired after a final spell at Bayer Leverkusen
- Finished his career with 220 goals in 480 appearances and 3 major honours. Finished his career with 220 goals in 480 appearances and 3 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Mesut Özil takes it by a decisive margin.
Mesut Özil edges it (a decisive margin)
