Andrea Pirlo vs David Luiz: Stats Compared
Central / Attacking Midfielder, Italy (born 1979, retired 2017) · Centre-Back, Brazil (born 1987, retired 2023)
Andrea Pirlo and David Luiz represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? Both built reputations on finding the back of the net, but they did it in markedly different ways. Andrea Pirlo finishes with 73 career goals from 728 games — a 0.10 strike rate — against David Luiz's 35 from 650 at 0.05 per match. Add playmaking to the mix and Andrea Pirlo laid on 80 goals, David Luiz 25. Andrea Pirlo departs the game with 13 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2006); David Luiz with 6, including 1× UEFA Champions League (2012). Where Andrea Pirlo was a intelligent presence in the box, David Luiz offered a elegant approach to goalscoring. Club journeys add another layer, with Andrea Pirlo reaching his representative peak around 2006 across Brescia, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, New York City FC and David Luiz doing so around 2013 with Vitória, Benfica, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Arsenal, Flamengo. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
179 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
Italian playmaker and World Cup winner; six-time Serie A champion and two-time Champions League winner.
“A deep-lying regista whose passing range and free-kick craft orchestrated Italy and Juventus for a decade.”
An eccentric, unpredictable Brazilian centre-back famed for his wild hairstyles and thunderous free-kicks, David Luiz won trophies across three major European leagues.
“An unorthodox, high-risk centre-back who combined bold attacking instincts and a huge shot with occasionally erratic positioning.”
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 (2006)
- 2× UEFA Champions League (2003, 2007)
- 6× Serie A
- 2× Coppa Italia
- 2× UEFA Super Cup (2003, 2007)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2012)
- 2× UEFA Europa League (2013, 2019)
- 2× Premier League (2015, 2017)
- 1× FA Cup (2018)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1995 Brescia debut aged 16
- 1998 Signed for Inter Milan but failed to break through
- 2001 Joined AC Milan and his career took off
- 2006 World Cup winner with Italy
- 2011 Free transfer to Juventus
- 2014 Set a Serie A points record with Juventus
- 2015 Joined MLS side New York City FC
- 2006 Professional debut for Vitória
- 2012 Won UEFA Champions League with Chelsea
- 2018 Won FA Cup with Chelsea
- 2013 Reached the peak of his powers at Chelsea
- 2023 Retired after a final spell at Flamengo
- Finished his career with 35 goals in 650 appearances and 6 major honours. Finished his career with 35 goals in 650 appearances and 6 major honours.
The verdict
Reasonable people will disagree, but Andrea Pirlo wins out by a decisive margin on the weight of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Andrea Pirlo edges it (a decisive margin)
