Gianluigi Buffon vs Edgar Davids: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, Italy (born 1978, retired 2023) · Defensive Midfielder, Netherlands (born 1973, retired 2011)
Comparing Gianluigi Buffon with Edgar Davids means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Beyond the numbers, each man brought a singular aesthetic to the pitch. The raw numbers read 1 goals in 1147 outings for Gianluigi Buffon (0.00/game), versus 45 in 600 for Edgar Davids (0.08/game). Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Gianluigi Buffon is credited with 0 and Edgar Davids with 40. In major honours Gianluigi Buffon collected 15 — headlined by 1× FIFA World Cup (2006) — whereas Edgar Davids amassed 4, led by 1× UEFA Champions League (1995). Gianluigi Buffon played with a brave that made him unmistakable; Edgar Davids brought a intelligent that was equally his own. The wider career context matters too: Gianluigi Buffon peaked around 2006 after representing Parma, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Parma, while Edgar Davids's defining level came around 2000 across Ajax, AC Milan, Juventus, Barcelona, Internazionale, Tottenham Hotspur, Ajax, Crystal Palace. The honest conclusion is that comparison enriches appreciation rather than crowns a single winner.
179 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
Italian goalkeeper and the most capped Italian player of all time; 2006 World Cup winner and ten-time Serie A champion.
“An authoritative, athletic keeper whose longevity made him the most-capped goalkeeper in history.”
Nicknamed 'The Pitbull' for his relentless tackling, Davids wore his trademark wraparound goggles and was one of the most feared ball-winners in Europe during Juventus's late-1990s dominance.
“An aggressive, tireless ball-winner whose combativeness and surprising technical quality made him a complete midfield destroyer.”
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 (2006)
- 10× Serie A
- 2× Coppa Italia
- 1× UEFA Cup (1999)
- 1× Ligue 1 (2019)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (1995)
- 3× Serie A (1998, 2002, 2003)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1995 Parma debut
- 2001 World-record keeper transfer to Juventus
- 2003 Lost the Champions League final on penalties
- 2006 World Cup winner with Italy
- 2018 Joined Paris Saint-Germain
- 2019 Returned to Juventus
- 2023 Scored a career goal for Parma in Serie B
- 1991 Professional debut for Ajax
- 1995 Won UEFA Champions League with Ajax
- 1998 Won Serie A with Juventus
- 2000 Reached the peak of his powers at Juventus
- 2011 Retired after a final spell at Crystal Palace
- Finished his career with 45 goals in 600 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 45 goals in 600 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Gianluigi Buffon takes it by a clear margin.
Gianluigi Buffon edges it (a clear margin)
