Franck Ribéry vs Bastian Schweinsteiger: Stats Compared
Winger, France (born 1983, retired 2022) · Central Midfielder, Germany (born 1984, retired 2019)
Few debates split football fans quite like Franck Ribéry versus Bastian Schweinsteiger. Strip away the highlights and the medal count tells its own story for each man. The raw numbers read 220 goals in 800 outings for Franck Ribéry (0.28/game), versus 99 in 657 for Bastian Schweinsteiger (0.15/game). Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Franck Ribéry is listed at 250 and Bastian Schweinsteiger at 0 where figures survive. The honours ledger favours Franck Ribéry with 16 major trophies (9× Bundesliga (2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)) against Bastian Schweinsteiger's 18 (1× FIFA World Cup (2014)). One lifted trophies through predatory reliability, the other through orchestrating moments that decided finals. Their routes to the top were distinct: Franck Ribéry built his reputation across Boulogne, Metz, Galatasaray, Marseille, Bayern Munich, Fiorentina, Salernitana, peaking around 2013, while Bastian Schweinsteiger reached his defining level around 2014 after spells with Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Chicago Fire. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
180 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
One of the greatest wingers never to win the Ballon d'Or, Ribéry was the explosive creative force behind Bayern Munich's treble-winning 2013 campaign.
“An explosive, unpredictable dribbler whose acceleration and close control made him one of the most feared wide players in Europe for over a decade.”
German midfielder who won the 2014 World Cup and eight Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich.
“A converted winger turned midfield general whose tireless running and passing drove Bayern and Germany.”
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
- 9× Bundesliga (2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2013)
- 6× DFB-Pokal (2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2014)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2013)
- 8× Bundesliga
- 7× DFB-Pokal
- 1× FA Cup (2016)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2000 Professional debut for Boulogne
- 2008 Won Bundesliga with Bayern Munich
- 2010 Won DFB-Pokal with Bayern Munich
- 2013 Reached the peak of his powers at Bayern Munich
- 2022 Retired after a final spell at Salernitana
- Finished his career with 220 goals in 800 appearances and 16 major honours. Finished his career with 220 goals in 800 appearances and 16 major honours.
- 2002 Bayern Munich debut
- 2006 World Cup third-place on home soil
- 2010 Bayern Champions League final defeat in Madrid
- 2013 Won the treble under Jupp Heynckes
- 2014 World Cup winner, scored in the final bloodied
- 2015 Joined Manchester United
- 2017 Joined Chicago Fire in MLS
The verdict
Reasonable people will disagree, but Bastian Schweinsteiger wins out by a decisive margin on the weight of a stronger all-round attribute profile.
Bastian Schweinsteiger edges it (a decisive margin)
