Gianluigi Buffon vs Diego Forlán: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, Italy (born 1978, retired 2023) · Striker, Uruguay (born 1979, retired 2019)
Line up Gianluigi Buffon next to Diego Forlán and the contrasts come quickly. Where pure finishing is concerned, this is a shootout between two of the most feared marksmen of their time. The raw numbers read 1 goals in 1147 outings for Gianluigi Buffon (0.00/game), versus 315 in 650 for Diego Forlán (0.48/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 Diego Forlán with 90. Gianluigi Buffon departs the game with 15 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2006); Diego Forlán with 3, including 2× UEFA Europa League (2010, 2012). Their finishing mirrored their personalities: Gianluigi Buffon sweeper-keen, Diego Forlán ruthless. Club journeys add another layer, with Gianluigi Buffon reaching his representative peak around 2006 across Parma, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Parma and Diego Forlán doing so around 2010 with Independiente, Manchester United, Villarreal, Atlético Madrid, Inter Milan, Internacional, Cerezo Osaka, Peñarol. Arguments will run and run, which is exactly why the matchup endures.
176 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
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.”
Winner of the Golden Ball as the standout player of the 2010 World Cup, Forlán was a prolific, two-footed striker who twice won the European Golden Shoe.
“A tireless, two-footed striker whose work rate and clean striking technique made him a nightmare for defenders in behind.”
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)
- 2× UEFA Europa League (2010, 2012)
- 1× UEFA Super Cup (2010)
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
- 2001 Professional debut for Independiente
- 2010 Won UEFA Europa League with Atlético Madrid
- 2010 Won UEFA Super Cup with Atlético Madrid
- 2010 Reached the peak of his powers at Atlético Madrid
- 2019 Retired after a final spell at Peñarol
- Finished his career with 315 goals in 650 appearances and 3 major honours. Finished his career with 315 goals in 650 appearances and 3 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Gianluigi Buffon the lead — a clear margin, courtesy of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Gianluigi Buffon edges it (a clear margin)
