Careca vs David Luiz: Stats Compared
Striker, Brazil (born 1960, retired 1994) · Centre-Back, Brazil (born 1987, retired 2023)
There is something timeless about weighing Careca against David Luiz. It is in how they played, rather than what they won, that the comparison gets interesting. Careca finishes with 300 career goals from 600 games — a 0.50 strike rate — against David Luiz's 35 from 650 at 0.05 per match. Add playmaking to the mix and Careca laid on 30 goals, David Luiz 25. In major honours Careca collected 4 — headlined by 2× Serie A (1987, 1990) — whereas David Luiz amassed 6, led by 1× UEFA Champions League (2012). Careca played with a ruthless that made him unmistakable; David Luiz brought a anticipatory that was equally his own. Club journeys add another layer, with Careca reaching his representative peak around 1988 across Guarani, São Paulo, Napoli, Kashima Antlers and David Luiz doing so around 2013 with Vitória, Benfica, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Arsenal, Flamengo. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
163 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
Diego Maradona's strike partner at Napoli, Careca formed one of Serie A's most feared attacking duos, helping the club to its first two Scudetti.
“A sharp, technically excellent striker whose close combination play and clinical finishing perfectly complemented a more individualist strike partner.”
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
- 2× Serie A (1987, 1990)
- 1× UEFA Cup (1989)
- 1× Coppa Italia (1987)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2012)
- 2× UEFA Europa League (2013, 2019)
- 2× Premier League (2015, 2017)
- 1× FA Cup (2018)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1978 Professional debut for Guarani
- 1987 Won Serie A with São Paulo
- 1987 Won Coppa Italia with São Paulo
- 1988 Reached the peak of his powers at Napoli
- 1994 Retired after a final spell at Kashima Antlers
- Finished his career with 300 goals in 600 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 300 goals in 600 appearances and 4 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
The numbers give David Luiz the lead — a narrow margin, courtesy of consistency at the very highest level.
David Luiz edges it (a narrow margin)
