Andrea Pirlo vs Park Ji-sung: Stats Compared
Central / Attacking Midfielder, Italy (born 1979, retired 2017) · Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014)
Andrea Pirlo and Park Ji-sung represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? Era matters in any comparison, and these two peaked under very different footballing conditions. Andrea Pirlo finishes with 73 career goals from 728 games — a 0.10 strike rate — against Park Ji-sung's 60 from 550 at 0.11 per match. Creativity tells a story too: 80 assists for Andrea Pirlo against 60 for Park Ji-sung. In major honours Andrea Pirlo collected 13 — headlined by 1× FIFA World Cup (2006) — whereas Park Ji-sung amassed 5, led by 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011). Across the turn of the millennium and the turn of the millennium respectively, their incisive and creative styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. The wider career context matters too: Andrea Pirlo peaked around 2006 after representing Brescia, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, New York City FC, while Park Ji-sung's defining level came around 2008 across Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers. Arguments will run and run, which is exactly why the matchup endures.
183 words · comparison angle: era
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.”
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.”
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)
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
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
- 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.
The verdict
Weighing production against honours, Andrea Pirlo takes the verdict — a decisive margin, driven by a weightier trophy cabinet.
Andrea Pirlo edges it (a decisive margin)
