George Best vs Roger Milla: Stats Compared
Winger / Forward, Northern Ireland (born 1946, retired 1984) · Striker, Cameroon (born 1952, retired 1994)
There is something timeless about weighing George Best against Roger Milla. Style separates them as much as statistics: two players, two unmistakable signatures. By the end George Best had 214 goals from 616 caps and club outings; Roger Milla had 150 from 400. Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. In major honours George Best collected 5 — headlined by 1× European Cup (1968) — whereas Roger Milla amassed 3, led by 2× Africa Cup of Nations (1984, 1988). George Best played with a mercurial that made him unmistakable; Roger Milla brought a mercurial that was equally his own. Context beyond the headline totals is important: George Best's landmark level arrived around 1968 with a career spanning Manchester United, Fulham, others; Roger Milla's came around 1990 across Union Douala, Valenciennes, Monaco, Bastia, Saint-Étienne, Montpellier, JS Kabylie. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
164 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
Northern Irish winger and Manchester United icon; Ballon d'Or winner in 1968 after helping Manchester United win their first European Cup.
“A balance-perfect winger who combined dribbling flair with an eye for goal and a rock-star aura.”
The exuberant hero of Cameroon's 1990 World Cup run, Milla became the oldest World Cup goalscorer at 42 and made his corner-flag dance world famous.
“A joyful, clever striker whose sharp movement and composure produced decisive goals late into his career.”
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× European Cup (1968)
- 2× English First Division (1965, 1967)
- 2× FA Charity Shield (1965, 1967)
- 2× Africa Cup of Nations (1984, 1988)
- 1× Coupe de France (1981)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1963 Manchester United debut aged 17
- 1965 First English First Division title
- 1968 European Cup winner and Ballon d'Or winner
- 1968 Joint top scorer in the First Division
- 1972 Brief retirement then return to Manchester United
- 1974 Left Manchester United
- 1984 Made final professional appearances in the United States
- 1974 Professional debut for Union Douala
- 1984 Won Africa Cup of Nations with Monaco
- 1981 Won Coupe de France with Monaco
- 1990 Reached the peak of his powers at Montpellier
- 1994 Retired after a final spell at JS Kabylie
- Finished his career with 150 goals in 400 appearances and 3 major honours. Finished his career with 150 goals in 400 appearances and 3 major honours.
The verdict
If forced to pick, George Best is the choice: a decisive margin, with a sharper goalscoring record the deciding factor.
George Best edges it (a decisive margin)
