Park Ji-sung vs Cláudio Taffarel: Stats Compared
Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014) · Goalkeeper, Brazil (born 1966, retired 2003)
Comparing Park Ji-sung with Cláudio Taffarel means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Style separates them as much as statistics: two players, two unmistakable signatures. Across his senior career Park Ji-sung notched 60 goals in 550 appearances (0.11 per game), while Cláudio Taffarel recorded 0 in 550 (0.00 per game). Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Park Ji-sung is listed at 60 and Cláudio Taffarel at 0 where figures survive. Park Ji-sung departs the game with 5 major pieces of silverware, including 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011); Cláudio Taffarel with 3, including 1× FIFA World Cup (1994). Stylistically Park Ji-sung was silky where Cláudio Taffarel was reflex-sharp — two vocabularies of the same sport. Their routes to the top were distinct: Park Ji-sung built his reputation across Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers, peaking around 2008, while Cláudio Taffarel reached his defining level around 1994 after spells with Internacional, Parma, Atlético Mineiro, Palmeiras. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
184 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
The first Asian player to win the Champions League and reach a World Cup semi-final, Park was renowned for his tireless work rate and big-game performances for Manchester United.
“A relentless, selfless box-to-box midfielder whose stamina and tactical discipline made him invaluable in the biggest matches.”
Brazil's first-choice goalkeeper through the 1990s, Taffarel's penalty save on Italy's Daniele Massaro sealed the 1994 World Cup, one of the finest shootout performances in the tournament's history.
“A reliable, agile shot-stopper renowned for his composure in penalty shootouts and clean handling under pressure.”
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
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (1994)
- 1× Copa América (1997)
- 1× UEFA Cup (1995)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2000 Professional debut for Kyoto Purple Sanga
- 2007 Won Premier League with Manchester United
- 2008 Won UEFA Champions League with Manchester United
- 2008 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester United
- 2014 Retired after a final spell at Queens Park Rangers
- Finished his career with 60 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 60 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours.
- 1985 Professional debut for Internacional
- 1994 Won FIFA World Cup with Parma
- 1995 Won UEFA Cup with Parma
- 1994 Reached the peak of his powers at Parma
- 2003 Retired after a final spell at Palmeiras
- Finished his career with 0 goals in 550 appearances and 3 major honours. Finished his career with 0 goals in 550 appearances and 3 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Park Ji-sung takes it by a decisive margin.
Park Ji-sung edges it (a decisive margin)
