Deco vs Bixente Lizarazu: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Portugal (born 1977, retired 2013) · Left-Back, France (born 1969, retired 2006)
Line up Deco next to Bixente Lizarazu and the contrasts come quickly. Their textures on the ball are what fans actually remember, and they could hardly be more different. Across his senior career Deco notched 90 goals in 550 appearances (0.16 per game), while Bixente Lizarazu recorded 15 in 600 (0.03 per game). Add playmaking to the mix and Deco laid on 100 goals, Bixente Lizarazu 30. The honours ledger favours Deco with 5 major trophies (2× UEFA Champions League (2004, 2006)) against Bixente Lizarazu's 7 (1× FIFA World Cup (1998)). Deco played with a dictatorial that made him unmistakable; Bixente Lizarazu brought a commanding that was equally his own. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Deco's landmark level arrived around 2004 with a career spanning Nacional, Porto, Barcelona, Chelsea, Fluminense; Bixente Lizarazu's came around 2001 across Bordeaux, Athletic Bilbao, Bayern Munich, Marseille. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
157 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
A Brazilian-born playmaker who became a Portugal icon, Deco won the UEFA Cup and Champions League with Porto before repeating the European triumph at Barcelona two years later.
“A quick-thinking, tenacious playmaker who combined physical durability with excellent vision and set-piece delivery.”
A world judo champion off the pitch, Lizarazu was one of the finest left-backs of his generation, winning the World Cup, European Championship and Champions League with Bayern Munich.
“A compact, combative full-back whose low centre of gravity and stamina let him bomb up and down the flank all match.”
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× UEFA Champions League (2004, 2006)
- 1× UEFA Cup (2003)
- 2× La Liga (2005, 2006)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (1998)
- 1× UEFA European Championship (2000)
- 4× Bundesliga (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2001)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1997 Professional debut for Nacional
- 2004 Won UEFA Champions League with Porto
- 2005 Won La Liga with Barcelona
- 2004 Reached the peak of his powers at Porto
- 2013 Retired after a final spell at Fluminense
- Finished his career with 90 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 90 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours.
- 1988 Professional debut for Bordeaux
- 1998 Won FIFA World Cup with Bayern Munich
- 2001 Won UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich
- 2001 Reached the peak of his powers at Bayern Munich
- 2006 Retired after a final spell at Marseille
- Finished his career with 15 goals in 600 appearances and 7 major honours. Finished his career with 15 goals in 600 appearances and 7 major honours.
The verdict
Weighing production, silverware and profile, the two finish within a whisker of each other. Call it a respectful draw — greatness of this calibre resists a single winner.
Too close to call — a respectful draw
