Juan Román Riquelme vs Paul Ince: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Argentina (born 1978, retired 2015) · Central Midfielder, England (born 1967, retired 2006)
Set Juan Román Riquelme alongside Paul Ince and the numbers start an argument of their own. Honours are what separate great players from trophy-laden legends, and both qualify. Across his senior career Juan Román Riquelme notched 130 goals in 550 appearances (0.24 per game), while Paul Ince recorded 90 in 650 (0.14 per game). In chance creation, Juan Román Riquelme tallied 100 assists to Paul Ince's 60. The honours ledger favours Juan Román Riquelme with 8 major trophies (3× Copa Libertadores (2000, 2001, 2007)) against Paul Ince's 4 (2× Premier League (1993, 1994)). One lifted trophies through incisive reliability, the other through orchestrating moments that decided finals. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Juan Román Riquelme's landmark level arrived around 2007 with a career spanning Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Villarreal, Boca Juniors; Paul Ince's came around 1994 across West Ham United, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Swindon Town. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
166 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
An unhurried, languid Argentine No.10 whose vision and close control made him the last great exponent of the classic South American enganche playmaker.
“A slow-paced but supremely elegant playmaker who dictated tempo with pinpoint passing and a low centre of gravity.”
The first Black player to captain England, Ince was a combative, driving midfielder at the heart of Manchester United's early Premier League dominance.
“An aggressive, all-action midfielder whose tackling and late runs into the box made him a formidable box-to-box presence.”
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× Copa Libertadores (2000, 2001, 2007)
- 2× Intercontinental Cup (2000, 2003)
- 3× Argentine Primera División (1998, 1999, 2000)
- 2× Premier League (1993, 1994)
- 2× FA Cup (1990, 1994)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1996 Professional debut for Boca Juniors
- 2000 Won Copa Libertadores with Boca Juniors
- 1998 Won Argentine Primera División with Boca Juniors
- 2007 Reached the peak of his powers at Villarreal
- 2015 Retired after a final spell at Boca Juniors
- Finished his career with 130 goals in 550 appearances and 8 major honours. Finished his career with 130 goals in 550 appearances and 8 major honours.
- 1986 Professional debut for West Ham United
- 1993 Won Premier League with Manchester United
- 1990 Won FA Cup with Manchester United
- 1994 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester United
- 2006 Retired after a final spell at Swindon Town
- Finished his career with 90 goals in 650 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 90 goals in 650 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Juan Román Riquelme takes it by a narrow margin.
Juan Román Riquelme edges it (a narrow margin)
