Just Fontaine vs Park Ji-sung: Stats Compared
Striker, France (born 1933, retired 1962) · Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014)
There is something timeless about weighing Just Fontaine against Park Ji-sung. Era matters in any comparison, and these two peaked under very different footballing conditions. Across his senior career Just Fontaine notched 200 goals in 300 appearances (0.67 per game), while Park Ji-sung recorded 60 in 550 (0.11 per game). Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Just Fontaine is listed at 0 and Park Ji-sung at 60 where figures survive. In major honours Just Fontaine collected 5 — headlined by 3× Ligue 1 (1955, 1958, 1960) — whereas Park Ji-sung amassed 5, led by 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011). Across the post-war golden age and the turn of the millennium respectively, their ruthless and intelligent styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. The wider career context matters too: Just Fontaine peaked around 1958 after representing USM Casablanca, Nice, Reims, while Park Ji-sung's defining level came around 2008 across Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
185 words · comparison angle: era
Player profiles
Fontaine's record of thirteen goals at the 1958 World Cup remains the highest single-tournament tally in history, a feat many consider unbreakable.
“An explosively quick, clinical striker whose finishing instincts produced goals in bunches over a tragically short career cut down by injury.”
The first Asian player to win the Champions League and reach a World Cup semi-final, Park was renowned for his tireless work rate and big-game performances for Manchester United.
“A relentless, selfless box-to-box midfielder whose stamina and tactical discipline made him invaluable in the biggest matches.”
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
- 3× Ligue 1 (1955, 1958, 1960)
- 2× Coupe de France (1958, 1961)
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1950 Professional debut for USM Casablanca
- 1955 Won Ligue 1 with Nice
- 1958 Won Coupe de France with Reims
- 1958 Reached the peak of his powers at Reims
- 1962 Retired after a final spell at Reims
- Finished his career with 200 goals in 300 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 200 goals in 300 appearances and 5 major honours.
- 2000 Professional debut for Kyoto Purple Sanga
- 2007 Won Premier League with Manchester United
- 2008 Won UEFA Champions League with Manchester United
- 2008 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester United
- 2014 Retired after a final spell at Queens Park Rangers
- Finished his career with 60 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 60 goals in 550 appearances and 5 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
