George Best vs Rivelino: Stats Compared
Winger / Forward, Northern Ireland (born 1946, retired 1984) · Left Midfielder, Brazil (born 1946, retired 1981)
Ask any fan to rank George Best above or below Rivelino and you will get a passionate answer. Era matters in any comparison, and these two peaked under very different footballing conditions. Across his senior career George Best notched 214 goals in 616 appearances (0.35 per game), while Rivelino recorded 238 in 624 (0.38 per game). Reliable assist tallies simply do not exist for large stretches of their careers, leaving creativity to the eye rather than the spreadsheet. The honours ledger favours George Best with 5 major trophies (1× European Cup (1968)) against Rivelino's 8 (1× FIFA World Cup (1970)). George Best belonged to the post-war golden age, dominating with a mercurial quality; Rivelino rose in the 1970s with a dictatorial edge. Context beyond the headline totals is important: George Best's landmark level arrived around 1968 with a career spanning Manchester United, Fulham, others; Rivelino's came around 1970 across Corinthians, Fluminense, Al-Hilal. Arguments will run and run, which is exactly why the matchup endures.
164 words · comparison angle: era
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.”
Roberto Rivellino (born 1 January 1946), known mononymously as Rivellino, is a Brazilian football pundit and former player. He was a key member of Brazil’s 1970 FIFA World Cup-winning team and played as an attacking midfielder. He was renowned for his moustache, powerful long-range shooting, accurate passing, close control, dribbling and bending free kicks.
“A left-footed conductor famous for the elastico, fierce shooting and daring switches of play.”
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)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (1970)
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
- 1962 Established himself at Corinthians
- 1966 Reached his defining peak
- 1970 Delivered a landmark season
- 1981 Retired from professional football
The verdict
Weighing production, silverware and profile, the two finish within a whisker of each other. Call it a respectful draw — greatness of this calibre resists a single winner.
Too close to call — a respectful draw
