Paul Scholes vs Hakan Şükür: Stats Compared
Central Midfielder, England (born 1974, retired 2013) · Striker, Turkey (born 1971, retired 2008)
Comparing Paul Scholes with Hakan Şükür means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Their textures on the ball are what fans actually remember, and they could hardly be more different. Across his senior career Paul Scholes notched 169 goals in 784 appearances (0.22 per game), while Hakan Şükür recorded 320 in 600 (0.53 per game). In chance creation, Paul Scholes tallied 75 assists to Hakan Şükür's 60. In major honours Paul Scholes collected 17 — headlined by 2× UEFA Champions League (1999, 2008) — whereas Hakan Şükür amassed 8, led by 1× UEFA Cup (2000). Stylistically Paul Scholes was intelligent where Hakan Şükür was explosive — two vocabularies of the same sport. The wider career context matters too: Paul Scholes peaked around 2008 after representing Manchester United, while Hakan Şükür's defining level came around 2000 across Sakaryaspor, Galatasaray, Torino, Galatasaray, Parma, Galatasaray, Blackburn Rovers, Galatasaray. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
156 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.”
Turkey's all-time leading goalscorer and captain of Galatasaray's historic 2000 UEFA Cup triumph, Şükür scored the fastest goal in World Cup history in 2002.
“A sharp, physically strong striker whose clinical finishing led Galatasaray's rise to continental success.”
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× UEFA Cup (2000)
- 1× UEFA Super Cup (2000)
- 6× Süper Lig (1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002)
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
- 1988 Professional debut for Sakaryaspor
- 2000 Won UEFA Cup with Galatasaray
- 1993 Won Süper Lig with Galatasaray
- 2000 Reached the peak of his powers at Galatasaray
- 2008 Retired after a final spell at Galatasaray
- Finished his career with 320 goals in 600 appearances and 8 major honours. Finished his career with 320 goals in 600 appearances and 8 major honours.
The verdict
Weighing production against honours, Paul Scholes takes the verdict — a decisive margin, driven by a weightier trophy cabinet.
Paul Scholes edges it (a decisive margin)
