Bobby Charlton vs Park Ji-sung: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, England (born 1937, retired 1973) · Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014)
There is something timeless about weighing Bobby Charlton against Park Ji-sung. Different decades shaped different demands, and both adapted to theirs brilliantly. Career output puts Bobby Charlton at 249 goals in 758 games, with Park Ji-sung at 60 in 550. 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 Park Ji-sung with 60. Trophy counts give Bobby Charlton 9 and Park Ji-sung 5, with 1× FIFA World Cup (1966) and 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011) the standout honours respectively. Across the post-war golden age and the turn of the millennium respectively, their orchestrating and intelligent styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. Their routes to the top were distinct: Bobby Charlton built his reputation across Manchester United, Preston North End, peaking around 1966, while Park Ji-sung reached his defining level around 2008 after spells with Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
178 words · comparison angle: era
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.”
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
- 1× FIFA World Cup (1966)
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
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
- 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
Weighing production against honours, Bobby Charlton takes the verdict — a decisive margin, driven by a sharper goalscoring record.
Bobby Charlton edges it (a decisive margin)
