Franco Baresi vs Dejan Savićević: Stats Compared
Sweeper / Centre-Back, Italy (born 1960, retired 1997) · Attacking Midfielder, Yugoslavia (born 1966, retired 2001)
The Franco Baresi–Dejan Savićević comparison is one of those fixtures of footballing folklore. Beyond the numbers, each man brought a singular aesthetic to the pitch. Franco Baresi finishes with 19 career goals from 800 games — a 0.02 strike rate — against Dejan Savićević's 110 from 450 at 0.24 per match. 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 Dejan Savićević with 70. The honours ledger favours Franco Baresi with 18 major trophies (3× European Cup (1989, 1990, 1994)) against Dejan Savićević's 5 (1× European Cup (1991)). Franco Baresi played with a uncompromising that made him unmistakable; Dejan Savićević brought a intelligent that was equally his own. Their routes to the top were distinct: Franco Baresi built his reputation across AC Milan, peaking around 1989, while Dejan Savićević reached his defining level around 1994 after spells with Budućnost Podgorica, Red Star Belgrade, AC Milan, Rapid Wien. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
181 words · comparison angle: style
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.”
Nicknamed 'The Genius', Savićević was a mesmerising Montenegrin playmaker whose iconic lobbed goal in the 1994 Champions League final capped AC Milan's most dominant era.
“An audacious, unpredictable dribbler whose flair and outrageous invention made him one of the most watchable players of his generation.”
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)
- 1× European Cup (1991)
- 3× Serie A (1993, 1994, 1996)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (1994)
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
- 1982 Professional debut for Budućnost Podgorica
- 1991 Won European Cup with Red Star Belgrade
- 1994 Won UEFA Champions League with AC Milan
- 1994 Reached the peak of his powers at AC Milan
- 2001 Retired after a final spell at Rapid Wien
- Finished his career with 110 goals in 450 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 110 goals in 450 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Franco Baresi the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Franco Baresi edges it (a decisive margin)
