Edwin van der Sar vs David Silva: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, Netherlands (born 1970, retired 2011) · Attacking Midfielder, Spain (born 1986, retired 2023)
When Edwin van der Sar and David Silva are mentioned in the same breath, opinions rarely stay quiet. They occupied different roles, which makes a like-for-like verdict a careful exercise. The raw numbers read 0 goals in 820 outings for Edwin van der Sar (0.00/game), versus 124 in 771 for David Silva (0.16/game). Reliable assist tallies simply do not exist for large stretches of their careers, leaving creativity to the eye rather than the spreadsheet. Trophy counts give Edwin van der Sar 9 and David Silva 9, with 1× UEFA Champions League (2008) and 1× FIFA World Cup (2010) the standout honours respectively. As a goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar bent the role to a imposing template; as a attacking midfielder, David Silva redefined it with intelligent authority. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Edwin van der Sar's landmark level arrived around 2008 with a career spanning Ajax, Juventus, Fulham, Manchester United; David Silva's came around 2012 across Valencia, Manchester City, Real Sociedad. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
176 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Edwin van der Sar is a Dutch football executive and former player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, he was most recently the chief executive of Eredivisie club Ajax. Van der Sar began his senior playing career with Ajax in the early 1990s; he is considered to be a member of the club's golden generation and was part of the team that won the UEFA Champions League in 1995.
“A tall, composed goalkeeper who made difficult saves look quiet and simple.”
David Josué Jiménez Silva (born 8 January 1986) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played mainly as a central or an attacking midfielder and occasionally as a winger or second striker. Widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation and among the greatest players in Premier League history, he was known for his balance, ball control and agility in close spaces, combined with his skill, composure, passing and flair on the ball. Silva spent seven years of his professional career with Valencia, playing from 2004 to 2010, and won the Copa del Rey in 2008.
“A pocket-sized conductor whose close control and passing gave Manchester City its early rhythm.”
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 (2008)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2010)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2000 Established himself at Ajax
- 2004 Reached his defining peak
- 2008 Delivered a landmark season
- 2011 Retired from professional football
- 2004 Established himself at Valencia
- 2008 Reached his defining peak
- 2012 Delivered a landmark season
- 2023 Retired from professional football
The verdict
If forced to pick, David Silva is the choice: a decisive margin, with a sharper goalscoring record the deciding factor.
David Silva edges it (a decisive margin)
