Esteban Cambiasso vs David Luiz: Stats Compared
Central Midfielder, Argentina (born 1980, retired 2016) · Centre-Back, Brazil (born 1987, retired 2023)
Esteban Cambiasso versus David Luiz is a clash of two unmistakable footballing identities. Separated by their years at the top, each defined the football of their own generation. Esteban Cambiasso finishes with 60 career goals from 620 games — a 0.10 strike rate — against David Luiz's 35 from 650 at 0.05 per match. Add playmaking to the mix and Esteban Cambiasso laid on 55 goals, David Luiz 25. In major honours Esteban Cambiasso collected 7 — headlined by 1× UEFA Champions League (2010) — whereas David Luiz amassed 6, led by 1× UEFA Champions League (2012). Across the modern era and the modern era respectively, their orchestrating and uncompromising styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. Their routes to the top were distinct: Esteban Cambiasso built his reputation across River Plate, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Leicester City, Olympiacos, peaking around 2010, while David Luiz reached his defining level around 2013 after spells with Vitória, Benfica, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Arsenal, Flamengo. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
177 words · comparison angle: era
Player profiles
A tireless, tactically astute Argentine midfielder who anchored Inter's historic 2010 treble-winning side.
“A disciplined box-to-box midfielder with excellent positional sense and a surprising eye for a spectacular long-range goal.”
An eccentric, unpredictable Brazilian centre-back famed for his wild hairstyles and thunderous free-kicks, David Luiz won trophies across three major European leagues.
“An unorthodox, high-risk centre-back who combined bold attacking instincts and a huge shot with occasionally erratic positioning.”
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× UEFA Champions League (2010)
- 5× Serie A (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
- 1× FIFA Club World Cup (2010)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2012)
- 2× UEFA Europa League (2013, 2019)
- 2× Premier League (2015, 2017)
- 1× FA Cup (2018)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1996 Professional debut for River Plate
- 2010 Won UEFA Champions League with Inter Milan
- 2010 Won FIFA Club World Cup with Inter Milan
- 2010 Reached the peak of his powers at Inter Milan
- 2016 Retired after a final spell at Olympiacos
- Finished his career with 60 goals in 620 appearances and 7 major honours. Finished his career with 60 goals in 620 appearances and 7 major honours.
- 2006 Professional debut for Vitória
- 2012 Won UEFA Champions League with Chelsea
- 2018 Won FA Cup with Chelsea
- 2013 Reached the peak of his powers at Chelsea
- 2023 Retired after a final spell at Flamengo
- Finished his career with 35 goals in 650 appearances and 6 major honours. Finished his career with 35 goals in 650 appearances and 6 major honours.
The verdict
Reasonable people will disagree, but Esteban Cambiasso wins out by a narrow margin on the weight of consistency at the very highest level.
Esteban Cambiasso edges it (a narrow margin)
