Andrea Pirlo vs Rafael van der Vaart: Stats Compared
Central / Attacking Midfielder, Italy (born 1979, retired 2017) · Attacking Midfielder, Netherlands (born 1983, retired 2018)
Ask any fan to rank Andrea Pirlo above or below Rafael van der Vaart and you will get a passionate answer. Strikers are judged on goals, and on that raw currency both men delivered extraordinary returns. Andrea Pirlo finishes with 73 career goals from 728 games — a 0.10 strike rate — against Rafael van der Vaart's 180 from 600 at 0.30 per match. The assist columns read 80 for Andrea Pirlo and 100 for Rafael van der Vaart where the record exists. Andrea Pirlo departs the game with 13 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2006); Rafael van der Vaart with 2, including 1× Eredivisie (2002). Where Andrea Pirlo was a dictatorial presence in the box, Rafael van der Vaart offered a silky approach to goalscoring. The wider career context matters too: Andrea Pirlo peaked around 2006 after representing Brescia, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, New York City FC, while Rafael van der Vaart's defining level came around 2010 across Ajax, Hamburger SV, Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, Hamburger SV, Real Betis, FC Midtjylland. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
190 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.”
A creative, elegant Dutch playmaker known for spectacular long-range volleys, Van der Vaart shone at Ajax, Real Madrid and Tottenham before a stellar return to Hamburg.
“A gifted attacking midfielder with a knack for scoring outrageous long-range strikes and threading incisive final passes.”
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× Eredivisie (2002)
- 1× KNVB Cup (2002)
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 Ajax
- 2002 Won Eredivisie with Ajax
- 2002 Won KNVB Cup with Ajax
- 2010 Reached the peak of his powers at Real Madrid
- 2018 Retired after a final spell at FC Midtjylland
- Finished his career with 180 goals in 600 appearances and 2 major honours. Finished his career with 180 goals in 600 appearances and 2 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Andrea Pirlo takes it by a decisive margin.
Andrea Pirlo edges it (a decisive margin)
