Ferenc Puskás vs Park Ji-sung: Stats Compared
Forward, Hungary (born 1927, retired 1966) · Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014)
Comparing Ferenc Puskás with Park Ji-sung means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Beyond the numbers, each man brought a singular aesthetic to the pitch. By the end Ferenc Puskás had 598 goals from 621 caps and club outings; Park Ji-sung had 60 from 550. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Ferenc Puskás is credited with 0 and Park Ji-sung with 60. In major honours Ferenc Puskás collected 10 — headlined by 3× European Cup (1959, 1960, 1966) — whereas Park Ji-sung amassed 5, led by 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011). Stylistically Ferenc Puskás was predatory where Park Ji-sung was incisive — two vocabularies of the same sport. Their routes to the top were distinct: Ferenc Puskás built his reputation across Budapest Honvéd, Real Madrid, peaking around 1960, while Park Ji-sung reached his defining level around 2008 after spells with Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
180 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
Hungarian legend of the Magical Magyats and a Real Madrid galáctico; scorer of 84 goals in 85 games for Hungary.
“A barrel-chested left-footed finisher whose deadly striking powered Hungary's Golden Team.”
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
- 3× European Cup (1959, 1960, 1966)
- 5× La Liga
- 1× Olympic Gold Medal (1952)
- 1× Central European Cup (1953)
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1943 Budapest Honvéd debut
- 1952 Olympic champion with Hungary
- 1953 Scored twice in the 6-3 win over England at Wembley
- 1956 Fled the Hungarian Revolution
- 1958 Joined Real Madrid
- 1960 Scored four goals in the European Cup final
- 1966 Retired from playing
- 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
On balance Ferenc Puskás edges the comparison. The margin is a decisive margin, decided mostly by a sharper goalscoring record.
Ferenc Puskás edges it (a decisive margin)
