Garrincha vs Nemanja Vidić: Stats Compared
Right Winger, Brazil (born 1933, retired 1972) · Centre-Back, Serbia (born 1981, retired 2016)
Put Garrincha and Nemanja Vidić side by side and you have a genuine generational conversation. They occupied different roles, which makes a like-for-like verdict a careful exercise. Across his senior career Garrincha notched 245 goals in 612 appearances (0.40 per game), while Nemanja Vidić recorded 29 in 518 (0.06 per game). Assists were never formally recorded across most of their eras, so the playmaking dimension has to be judged on reputation and highlights rather than hard totals. In major honours Garrincha collected 9 — headlined by 2× FIFA World Cup (1958, 1962) — whereas Nemanja Vidić amassed 8, led by 5× Premier League (2007–2013). The right winger duties of Garrincha leaned clinical; the centre-back responsibilities of Nemanja Vidić leaned resolute. Club journeys add another layer, with Garrincha reaching his representative peak around 1962 across Botafogo, Corinthians, Flamengo and Nemanja Vidić doing so around 2009 with Red Star Belgrade, Spartak Moscow, Manchester United, Inter. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
168 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.”
Nemanja Vidić is a Serbian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Widely considered as one of the greatest defenders of all time, Vidić is best known for his time at Manchester United, where he won 15 trophies and served as club captain. He is one of only five players to win the Premier League Player of the Season award twice, alongside Thierry Henry, Kevin De Bruyne, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah.
“A fearless centre-back who dominated the air and treated every duel as a personal contest.”
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)
- 5× Premier League (2007–2013)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1954 Established himself at Botafogo
- 1958 Reached his defining peak
- 1962 Delivered a landmark season
- 1972 Retired from professional football
- 2001 Established himself at Red Star Belgrade
- 2005 Reached his defining peak
- 2009 Delivered a landmark season
- 2016 Retired from professional football
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
