Alessandro Del Piero vs Hidetoshi Nakata: Stats Compared
Second Striker, Italy (born 1974, retired 2014) · Attacking Midfielder, Japan (born 1977, retired 2006)
Line up Alessandro Del Piero next to Hidetoshi Nakata and the contrasts come quickly. Era matters in any comparison, and these two peaked under very different footballing conditions. By the end Alessandro Del Piero had 357 goals from 867 caps and club outings; Hidetoshi Nakata had 60 from 400. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Alessandro Del Piero is credited with 0 and Hidetoshi Nakata with 60. Alessandro Del Piero departs the game with 10 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2006); Hidetoshi Nakata with 1, including 1× Serie A (2001). Across the 1990s and the turn of the millennium respectively, their predatory and incisive styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. Their routes to the top were distinct: Alessandro Del Piero built his reputation across Padova, Juventus, Sydney FC, Delhi Dynamos, peaking around 1998, while Hidetoshi Nakata reached his defining level around 2001 after spells with Bellmare Hiratsuka, Perugia, Roma, Parma, Bologna, Fiorentina, Bolton Wanderers. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
188 words · comparison angle: era
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 Japanese footballer to become a global superstar, Nakata's move to Serie A in 1998 opened the door for a generation of Japanese players in Europe.
“A composed, technically excellent attacking midfielder blessed with an outstanding range of passing and shooting from distance.”
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)
- 1× Serie A (2001)
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
- 1995 Professional debut for Bellmare Hiratsuka
- 2001 Won Serie A with Roma
- 2001 Reached the peak of his powers at Roma
- 2006 Retired after a final spell at Bolton Wanderers
- Finished his career with 60 goals in 400 appearances and 1 major honours. Finished his career with 60 goals in 400 appearances and 1 major honours.
The verdict
On balance Alessandro Del Piero edges the comparison. The margin is a decisive margin, decided mostly by a sharper goalscoring record.
Alessandro Del Piero edges it (a decisive margin)
