Nemanja Vidić vs Patrick Vieira: Stats Compared
Centre-Back, Serbia (born 1981, retired 2016) · Central Midfielder, France (born 1976, retired 2011)
When Nemanja Vidić and Patrick Vieira are mentioned in the same breath, opinions rarely stay quiet. Trophies, more than goals, are how most supporters ultimately remember a career. By the end Nemanja Vidić had 29 goals from 518 caps and club outings; Patrick Vieira had 68 from 737. Assists were never formally recorded across most of their eras, so the playmaking dimension has to be judged on reputation and highlights rather than hard totals. In major honours Nemanja Vidić collected 8 — headlined by 5× Premier League (2007–2013) — whereas Patrick Vieira amassed 15, led by 1× FIFA World Cup (1998). One lifted trophies through elegant reliability, the other through incisive moments that decided finals. Their routes to the top were distinct: Nemanja Vidić built his reputation across Red Star Belgrade, Spartak Moscow, Manchester United, Inter, peaking around 2009, while Patrick Vieira reached his defining level around 2004 after spells with Cannes, AC Milan, Arsenal, Juventus, Inter Milan, Manchester City. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
170 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
Nemanja Vidić is a Serbian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Widely considered as one of the greatest defenders of all time, Vidić is best known for his time at Manchester United, where he won 15 trophies and served as club captain. He is one of only five players to win the Premier League Player of the Season award twice, alongside Thierry Henry, Kevin De Bruyne, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah.
“A fearless centre-back who dominated the air and treated every duel as a personal contest.”
Arsenal captain who led the Invincibles to the 2003-04 Premier League title; World Cup and Euro winner with France.
“A towering, leggy box-to-box enforcer who combined physicality with technical security in midfield.”
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
- 5× Premier League (2007–2013)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (1998)
- 1× UEFA European Championship (2000)
- 2× FIFA Confederations Cup (2001, 2003)
- 3× Premier League (1998, 2002, 2004)
- 4× Serie A (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
- 4× FA Cup (1998, 2002, 2003, 2005)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2001 Established himself at Red Star Belgrade
- 2005 Reached his defining peak
- 2009 Delivered a landmark season
- 2016 Retired from professional football
- 1994 Cannes debut
- 1996 Joined AC Milan for limited game time
- 1996 Signed for Arsenal
- 1998 World Cup winner with France
- 2001 Succeeded Tony Adams as Arsenal captain
- 2005 Left Arsenal for Juventus
- 2011 Retired at Manchester City
The verdict
Weighing production against honours, Patrick Vieira takes the verdict — a decisive margin, driven by a weightier trophy cabinet.
Patrick Vieira edges it (a decisive margin)
