Paul Scholes vs Daniele De Rossi: Stats Compared
Central Midfielder, England (born 1974, retired 2013) · Central Midfielder, Italy (born 1983, retired 2019)
Comparing Paul Scholes with Daniele De Rossi means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Style separates them as much as statistics: two players, two unmistakable signatures. The raw numbers read 169 goals in 784 outings for Paul Scholes (0.22/game), versus 65 in 700 for Daniele De Rossi (0.09/game). Creativity tells a story too: 75 assists for Paul Scholes against 60 for Daniele De Rossi. Trophy counts give Paul Scholes 17 and Daniele De Rossi 3, with 2× UEFA Champions League (1999, 2008) and 1× FIFA World Cup (2006) the standout honours respectively. Paul Scholes played with a orchestrating that made him unmistakable; Daniele De Rossi brought a incisive that was equally his own. The wider career context matters too: Paul Scholes peaked around 2008 after representing Manchester United, while Daniele De Rossi's defining level came around 2013 across Roma. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
150 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
Manchester United midfielder renowned for his passing range and vision; two-time Champions League winner.
“A short-sighted, single-touch midfielder whose passing range was unmatched in his generation.”
A one-club legend and 2006 World Cup winner, De Rossi embodied Roma's midfield for nearly two decades, combining ferocious tackling with a superb range of passing.
“A commanding, technically excellent deep-lying midfielder who mixed hard tackling with elegant long-range distribution.”
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× UEFA Champions League (1999, 2008)
- 11× Premier League
- 3× FA Cup (1996, 1999, 2004)
- 1× FIFA Club World Cup (2008)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2006)
- 2× Coppa Italia (2007, 2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1994 Manchester United debut
- 1996 First Premier League title
- 1999 Treble winner with Manchester United
- 2003 Briefly retired from England duty
- 2008 Second Champions League winner
- 2011 Came out of retirement to help Manchester United
- 2013 Retired for good at Manchester United
- 2001 Professional debut for Roma
- 2006 Won FIFA World Cup with Roma
- 2007 Won Coppa Italia with Roma
- 2013 Reached the peak of his powers at Roma
- 2019 Retired after a final spell at Roma
- Finished his career with 65 goals in 700 appearances and 3 major honours. Finished his career with 65 goals in 700 appearances and 3 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Paul Scholes the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Paul Scholes edges it (a decisive margin)
