Bobby Charlton vs Per Mertesacker: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, England (born 1937, retired 1973) · Centre-Back, Germany (born 1984, retired 2018)
The Bobby Charlton–Per Mertesacker comparison is one of those fixtures of footballing folklore. Comparing across positions is never straightforward, and these two asked different questions of opponents. The raw numbers read 249 goals in 758 outings for Bobby Charlton (0.33/game), versus 15 in 550 for Per Mertesacker (0.03/game). Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Bobby Charlton is credited with 0 and Per Mertesacker with 5. In major honours Bobby Charlton collected 9 — headlined by 1× FIFA World Cup (1966) — whereas Per Mertesacker amassed 4, led by 1× FIFA World Cup (2014). As a attacking midfielder Bobby Charlton bent the role to a silky template; as a centre-back, Per Mertesacker redefined it with commanding authority. Their routes to the top were distinct: Bobby Charlton built his reputation across Manchester United, Preston North End, peaking around 1966, while Per Mertesacker reached his defining level around 2014 after spells with Hannover 96, Werder Bremen, Arsenal. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
182 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Sir Robert Charlton (11 October 1937 – 21 October 2023) was an English footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, left winger or centre-forward. Widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, he was a member of the England team that won the 1966 FIFA World Cup, the year he also won the Ballon d'Or. He finished second in the Ballon d'Or voting in 1967 and 1968.
“A gracious long-range shooter who married timing, stamina and world-class technique.”
A towering, calm German centre-back nicknamed 'BFG' by Arsenal fans, Mertesacker started every match of Germany's triumphant 2014 World Cup campaign.
“A commanding, positionally intelligent centre-back whose reading of the game compensated for a lack of raw pace.”
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 (1966)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2014)
- 3× FA Cup (2014, 2015, 2017)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1958 Established himself at Manchester United
- 1962 Reached his defining peak
- 1966 Delivered a landmark season
- 1973 Retired from professional football
- 2001 Professional debut for Hannover 96
- 2014 Won FIFA World Cup with Arsenal
- 2014 Won FA Cup with Arsenal
- 2014 Reached the peak of his powers at Arsenal
- 2018 Retired after a final spell at Arsenal
- Finished his career with 15 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 15 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
If forced to pick, Bobby Charlton is the choice: a decisive margin, with a sharper goalscoring record the deciding factor.
Bobby Charlton edges it (a decisive margin)
