Davor Šuker vs Park Ji-sung: Stats Compared
Striker, Croatia (born 1968, retired 2003) · Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014)
The Davor Šuker–Park Ji-sung comparison is one of those fixtures of footballing folklore. Their jobs on the pitch were not the same, yet both redefined what their role could be. Across his senior career Davor Šuker notched 273 goals in 526 appearances (0.52 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 — Davor Šuker is listed at 0 and Park Ji-sung at 60 where figures survive. The honours ledger favours Davor Šuker with 8 major trophies (1× UEFA Champions League (1998)) against Park Ji-sung's 5 (4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)). The striker duties of Davor Šuker leaned mercurial; the midfielder responsibilities of Park Ji-sung leaned creative. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Davor Šuker's landmark level arrived around 1998 with a career spanning Osijek, Sevilla, Real Madrid, Arsenal, West Ham; Park Ji-sung's came around 2008 across Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
182 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Davor Šuker is a Croatian football administrator and former professional player who played as a striker. He served as the president of the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) from 2012 to 2021. Šuker is generally regarded as the greatest Croatian striker of all time with a record 45 goals in 68 matches.
“A left-footed finisher with delicate touch, clever movement and a taste for spectacular goals.”
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
- 1× UEFA Champions League (1998)
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1990 Established himself at Osijek
- 1994 Reached his defining peak
- 1998 Delivered a landmark season
- 2003 Retired from professional football
- 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, Davor Šuker is the choice: a clear margin, with a sharper goalscoring record the deciding factor.
Davor Šuker edges it (a clear margin)
