Franck Ribéry vs Edwin van der Sar: Stats Compared
Winger, France (born 1983, retired 2022) · Goalkeeper, Netherlands (born 1970, retired 2011)
Few debates split football fans quite like Franck Ribéry versus Edwin van der Sar. Trophies, more than goals, are how most supporters ultimately remember a career. By the end Franck Ribéry had 220 goals from 800 caps and club outings; Edwin van der Sar had 0 from 820. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Franck Ribéry is listed at 250 and Edwin van der Sar at 0 where figures survive. In major honours Franck Ribéry collected 16 — headlined by 9× Bundesliga (2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) — whereas Edwin van der Sar amassed 9, led by 1× UEFA Champions League (2008). One lifted trophies through predatory reliability, the other through sweeper-keen moments that decided finals. Club journeys add another layer, with Franck Ribéry reaching his representative peak around 2013 across Boulogne, Metz, Galatasaray, Marseille, Bayern Munich, Fiorentina, Salernitana and Edwin van der Sar doing so around 2008 with Ajax, Juventus, Fulham, Manchester United. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
185 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.”
Edwin van der Sar is a Dutch football executive and former player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, he was most recently the chief executive of Eredivisie club Ajax. Van der Sar began his senior playing career with Ajax in the early 1990s; he is considered to be a member of the club's golden generation and was part of the team that won the UEFA Champions League in 1995.
“A tall, composed goalkeeper who made difficult saves look quiet and simple.”
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× UEFA Champions League (2008)
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.
- 2000 Established himself at Ajax
- 2004 Reached his defining peak
- 2008 Delivered a landmark season
- 2011 Retired from professional football
The verdict
The numbers give Franck Ribéry the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Franck Ribéry edges it (a decisive margin)
