Peter Shilton vs Lilian Thuram: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, England (born 1949, retired 1997) · Centre-Back / Right-Back, France (born 1972, retired 2008)
Set Peter Shilton alongside Lilian Thuram and the numbers start an argument of their own. Comparing across positions is never straightforward, and these two asked different questions of opponents. Across his senior career Peter Shilton notched 1 goals in 1005 appearances (0.00 per game), while Lilian Thuram recorded 14 in 681 (0.02 per game). Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. In major honours Peter Shilton collected 4 — headlined by 2× European Cup (1979, 1980) — whereas Lilian Thuram amassed 8, led by 1× FIFA World Cup (1998). As a goalkeeper Peter Shilton bent the role to a reflex-sharp template; as a centre-back / right-back, Lilian Thuram redefined it with anticipatory authority. Club journeys add another layer, with Peter Shilton reaching his representative peak around 1980 across Leicester City, Stoke City, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Derby County, Plymouth Argyle, Wimbledon, Leyton Orient and Lilian Thuram doing so around 1998 with Monaco, Parma, Juventus, Barcelona. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
179 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
The most-capped England player in history with 125 caps, Shilton set an English record of 1,005 league appearances and won back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest.
“A commanding, remarkably consistent shot-stopper whose positioning and reflexes made him one of the most reliable goalkeepers of his generation.”
French defender who played a record 142 times for France; scorer of two goals in the 1998 World Cup semifinal.
“A robust, intelligent defender equally adept at right-back and centre-back, with surprising scoring instincts in big games.”
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× European Cup (1979, 1980)
- 1× English First Division (1978)
- 1× League Cup (1979)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (1998)
- 1× UEFA European Championship (2000)
- 1× FIFA Confederations Cup (2003)
- 1× UEFA Cup (1999)
- 2× Serie A (2002, 2003)
- 2× Supercoppa Italiana (2002, 2003)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1966 Professional debut for Leicester City
- 1979 Won European Cup with Nottingham Forest
- 1979 Won League Cup with Nottingham Forest
- 1980 Reached the peak of his powers at Nottingham Forest
- 1997 Retired after a final spell at Leyton Orient
- Finished his career with 1 goals in 1005 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 1 goals in 1005 appearances and 4 major honours.
- 1991 Monaco debut
- 1996 Joined Parma
- 1998 World Cup winner, scored twice in the semi-final against Croatia
- 2000 Euro winner with France
- 2001 Joined Juventus for a world-record defender fee
- 2006 Signed for Barcelona
- 2008 Retired after Euro 2008
The verdict
On balance Lilian Thuram edges the comparison. The margin is a decisive margin, decided mostly by a weightier trophy cabinet.
Lilian Thuram edges it (a decisive margin)
