Patrick Vieira vs Esteban Cambiasso: Stats Compared
Central Midfielder, France (born 1976, retired 2011) · Central Midfielder, Argentina (born 1980, retired 2016)
Patrick Vieira versus Esteban Cambiasso is a clash of two unmistakable footballing identities. Separated by their years at the top, each defined the football of their own generation. Across his senior career Patrick Vieira notched 68 goals in 737 appearances (0.09 per game), while Esteban Cambiasso recorded 60 in 620 (0.10 per game). Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Patrick Vieira is listed at 0 and Esteban Cambiasso at 55 where figures survive. Trophy counts give Patrick Vieira 15 and Esteban Cambiasso 7, with 1× FIFA World Cup (1998) and 1× UEFA Champions League (2010) the standout honours respectively. Across the turn of the millennium and the modern era respectively, their dictatorial and orchestrating styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. The wider career context matters too: Patrick Vieira peaked around 2004 after representing Cannes, AC Milan, Arsenal, Juventus, Inter Milan, Manchester City, while Esteban Cambiasso's defining level came around 2010 across River Plate, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Leicester City, Olympiacos. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
189 words · comparison angle: era
Player profiles
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.”
A tireless, tactically astute Argentine midfielder who anchored Inter's historic 2010 treble-winning side.
“A disciplined box-to-box midfielder with excellent positional sense and a surprising eye for a spectacular long-range goal.”
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 (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)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2010)
- 5× Serie A (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
- 1× FIFA Club World Cup (2010)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 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
- 1996 Professional debut for River Plate
- 2010 Won UEFA Champions League with Inter Milan
- 2010 Won FIFA Club World Cup with Inter Milan
- 2010 Reached the peak of his powers at Inter Milan
- 2016 Retired after a final spell at Olympiacos
- Finished his career with 60 goals in 620 appearances and 7 major honours. Finished his career with 60 goals in 620 appearances and 7 major honours.
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)
