Garrincha vs Dejan Savićević: Stats Compared
Right Winger, Brazil (born 1933, retired 1972) · Attacking Midfielder, Yugoslavia (born 1966, retired 2001)
Comparing Garrincha with Dejan Savićević means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Comparing across positions is never straightforward, and these two asked different questions of opponents. Garrincha finishes with 245 career goals from 612 games — a 0.40 strike rate — against Dejan Savićević's 110 from 450 at 0.24 per match. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Garrincha is listed at 0 and Dejan Savićević at 70 where figures survive. Garrincha departs the game with 9 major pieces of silverware, including 2× FIFA World Cup (1958, 1962); Dejan Savićević with 5, including 1× European Cup (1991). The right winger duties of Garrincha leaned mercurial; the attacking midfielder responsibilities of Dejan Savićević leaned orchestrating. Their routes to the top were distinct: Garrincha built his reputation across Botafogo, Corinthians, Flamengo, peaking around 1962, while Dejan Savićević reached his defining level around 1994 after spells with Budućnost Podgorica, Red Star Belgrade, AC Milan, Rapid Wien. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
177 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Manuel Francisco dos Santos (28 October 1933 – 20 January 1983), nicknamed Mané Garrincha, best known as simply Garrincha, was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a right winger. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and by many, one of the greatest dribblers ever. Garrincha played a vital role in Brazil's 1958 and 1962 World Cup victories.
“A joyful dribbler whose balance and feints made the right flank his personal stage.”
Nicknamed 'The Genius', Savićević was a mesmerising Montenegrin playmaker whose iconic lobbed goal in the 1994 Champions League final capped AC Milan's most dominant era.
“An audacious, unpredictable dribbler whose flair and outrageous invention made him one of the most watchable players of his generation.”
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× FIFA World Cup (1958, 1962)
- 1× European Cup (1991)
- 3× Serie A (1993, 1994, 1996)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (1994)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1954 Established himself at Botafogo
- 1958 Reached his defining peak
- 1962 Delivered a landmark season
- 1972 Retired from professional football
- 1982 Professional debut for Budućnost Podgorica
- 1991 Won European Cup with Red Star Belgrade
- 1994 Won UEFA Champions League with AC Milan
- 1994 Reached the peak of his powers at AC Milan
- 2001 Retired after a final spell at Rapid Wien
- Finished his career with 110 goals in 450 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 110 goals in 450 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Garrincha the lead — a clear margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Garrincha edges it (a clear margin)
