Franco Baresi vs Park Ji-sung: Stats Compared
Sweeper / Centre-Back, Italy (born 1960, retired 1997) · Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014)
When Franco Baresi and Park Ji-sung are mentioned in the same breath, opinions rarely stay quiet. Era matters in any comparison, and these two peaked under very different footballing conditions. The raw numbers read 19 goals in 800 outings for Franco Baresi (0.02/game), versus 60 in 550 for Park Ji-sung (0.11/game). Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Franco Baresi is credited with 0 and Park Ji-sung with 60. In major honours Franco Baresi collected 18 — headlined by 3× European Cup (1989, 1990, 1994) — whereas Park Ji-sung amassed 5, led by 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011). Across the 1980s and the turn of the millennium respectively, their commanding and creative styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. Club journeys add another layer, with Franco Baresi reaching his representative peak around 1989 across AC Milan and Park Ji-sung doing so around 2008 with Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
182 words · comparison angle: era
Player profiles
AC Milan icon who spent his entire 20-year career at the club; three-time European Cup winner and 1994 World Cup finalist with Italy.
“A peerless sweeper whose reading, tackling and leadership built a defensive dynasty at Milan.”
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
- 3× European Cup (1989, 1990, 1994)
- 6× Serie A (1979, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996)
- 4× Supercoppa Italiana
- 3× UEFA Super Cup
- 2× Intercontinental Cup (1989, 1990)
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1977 AC Milan debut aged 17
- 1979 First Scudetto with Milan
- 1980 Stayed at Milan in Serie B after the betting scandal
- 1989 First European Cup with Milan
- 1994 Won the Champions League conceding just 15 goals in 30 league games
- 1997 Retired aged 37 with the number 6 shirt retired in his honour
- 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
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Franco Baresi takes it by a decisive margin.
Franco Baresi edges it (a decisive margin)
