Alessandro Del Piero vs Paul Ince: Stats Compared
Second Striker, Italy (born 1974, retired 2014) · Central Midfielder, England (born 1967, retired 2006)
Comparing Alessandro Del Piero with Paul Ince means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Greatness, in the end, is about who you inspired, and both left a footprint far beyond their own careers. Career output puts Alessandro Del Piero at 357 goals in 867 games, with Paul Ince at 90 in 650. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Alessandro Del Piero is listed at 0 and Paul Ince at 60 where figures survive. Alessandro Del Piero departs the game with 10 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2006); Paul Ince with 4, including 2× Premier League (1993, 1994). Their legacies diverge in texture: Alessandro Del Piero is remembered as mercurial, Paul Ince as orchestrating. Club journeys add another layer, with Alessandro Del Piero reaching his representative peak around 1998 across Padova, Juventus, Sydney FC, Delhi Dynamos and Paul Ince doing so around 1994 with West Ham United, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Swindon Town. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
187 words · comparison angle: legacy
Player profiles
Juventus icon who holds the club's all-time goals and appearances records; 2006 World Cup winner with Italy.
“A gifted second striker with imagination, free-kick craft and trademark curling finishes from the left channel.”
The first Black player to captain England, Ince was a combative, driving midfielder at the heart of Manchester United's early Premier League dominance.
“An aggressive, all-action midfielder whose tackling and late runs into the box made him a formidable box-to-box presence.”
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)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (1996)
- 1× UEFA Intertoto Cup (1999)
- 6× Serie A
- 1× Coppa Italia (1995)
- 2× Premier League (1993, 1994)
- 2× FA Cup (1990, 1994)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1991 Padova debut
- 1993 Joined Juventus
- 1996 Won the Champions League with Juventus
- 1998 Suffered a serious knee injury against Udinese
- 2006 Stayed at Juventus in Serie B after Calciopoli
- 2006 World Cup winner with Italy
- 2012 Left Juventus after 19 seasons for Sydney FC
- 1986 Professional debut for West Ham United
- 1993 Won Premier League with Manchester United
- 1990 Won FA Cup with Manchester United
- 1994 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester United
- 2006 Retired after a final spell at Swindon Town
- Finished his career with 90 goals in 650 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 90 goals in 650 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Alessandro Del Piero the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Alessandro Del Piero edges it (a decisive margin)
