Karl-Heinz Rummenigge vs Park Ji-sung: Stats Compared
Striker, Germany (born 1955, retired 1989) · Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014)
When Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Park Ji-sung are mentioned in the same breath, opinions rarely stay quiet. Era matters in any comparison, and these two peaked under very different footballing conditions. Across his senior career Karl-Heinz Rummenigge notched 260 goals in 550 appearances (0.47 per game), while Park Ji-sung recorded 60 in 550 (0.11 per game). Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is listed at 0 and Park Ji-sung at 60 where figures survive. In major honours Karl-Heinz Rummenigge collected 5 — headlined by 2× Bundesliga (1980, 1981) — whereas Park Ji-sung amassed 5, led by 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011). Across the 1980s and the turn of the millennium respectively, their ruthless and silky styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. The wider career context matters too: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge peaked around 1980 after representing Borussia Lippstadt, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Servette, while Park Ji-sung's defining level came around 2008 across Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers. The honest conclusion is that comparison enriches appreciation rather than crowns a single winner.
191 words · comparison angle: era
Player profiles
A two-time Ballon d'Or winner, Rummenigge was Bayern Munich's talismanic striker through their back-to-back European Cup triumphs of the mid-1970s.
“An explosively quick, clinical striker who combined blistering pace with an ice-cool finish in one-on-ones.”
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
- 2× Bundesliga (1980, 1981)
- 2× European Cup (1975, 1976)
- 1× DFB-Pokal (1982)
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1971 Professional debut for Borussia Lippstadt
- 1980 Won Bundesliga with Bayern Munich
- 1982 Won DFB-Pokal with Bayern Munich
- 1980 Reached the peak of his powers at Bayern Munich
- 1989 Retired after a final spell at Servette
- Finished his career with 260 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 260 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours.
- 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
If forced to pick, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is the choice: a narrow margin, with a sharper goalscoring record the deciding factor.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge edges it (a narrow margin)
