Bastian Schweinsteiger vs Per Mertesacker: Stats Compared
Central Midfielder, Germany (born 1984, retired 2019) · Centre-Back, Germany (born 1984, retired 2018)
Bastian Schweinsteiger against Per Mertesacker is the kind of comparison that fuels pub arguments for hours. Comparing across positions is never straightforward, and these two asked different questions of opponents. On production alone, Bastian Schweinsteiger posted 99 goals across 657 appearances while Per Mertesacker managed 15 across 550. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Bastian Schweinsteiger is credited with 0 and Per Mertesacker with 5. In major honours Bastian Schweinsteiger collected 18 — headlined by 1× FIFA World Cup (2014) — whereas Per Mertesacker amassed 4, led by 1× FIFA World Cup (2014). As a central midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger bent the role to a incisive template; as a centre-back, Per Mertesacker redefined it with anticipatory authority. Club journeys add another layer, with Bastian Schweinsteiger reaching his representative peak around 2014 across Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Chicago Fire and Per Mertesacker doing so around 2014 with Hannover 96, Werder Bremen, Arsenal. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
181 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
German midfielder who won the 2014 World Cup and eight Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich.
“A converted winger turned midfield general whose tireless running and passing drove Bayern and Germany.”
A towering, calm German centre-back nicknamed 'BFG' by Arsenal fans, Mertesacker started every match of Germany's triumphant 2014 World Cup campaign.
“A commanding, positionally intelligent centre-back whose reading of the game compensated for a lack of raw pace.”
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
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2014)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2013)
- 8× Bundesliga
- 7× DFB-Pokal
- 1× FA Cup (2016)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2014)
- 3× FA Cup (2014, 2015, 2017)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2002 Bayern Munich debut
- 2006 World Cup third-place on home soil
- 2010 Bayern Champions League final defeat in Madrid
- 2013 Won the treble under Jupp Heynckes
- 2014 World Cup winner, scored in the final bloodied
- 2015 Joined Manchester United
- 2017 Joined Chicago Fire in MLS
- 2001 Professional debut for Hannover 96
- 2014 Won FIFA World Cup with Arsenal
- 2014 Won FA Cup with Arsenal
- 2014 Reached the peak of his powers at Arsenal
- 2018 Retired after a final spell at Arsenal
- Finished his career with 15 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 15 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
Reasonable people will disagree, but Bastian Schweinsteiger wins out by a decisive margin on the weight of a sharper goalscoring record.
Bastian Schweinsteiger edges it (a decisive margin)
