Jairzinho vs Park Ji-sung: Stats Compared
Right Winger, Brazil (born 1944, retired 1982) · Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014)
There is something timeless about weighing Jairzinho against Park Ji-sung. Position shapes everything in football, and these two fulfilled very different briefs. Across his senior career Jairzinho notched 350 goals in 650 appearances (0.54 per game), while Park Ji-sung recorded 60 in 550 (0.11 per game). In chance creation, Jairzinho tallied 60 assists to Park Ji-sung's 60. In major honours Jairzinho collected 5 — headlined by 2× FIFA World Cup (1962, 1970) — whereas Park Ji-sung amassed 5, led by 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011). As a right winger Jairzinho bent the role to a mercurial template; as a midfielder, Park Ji-sung redefined it with dictatorial authority. Their routes to the top were distinct: Jairzinho built his reputation across Botafogo, Marseille, Cruzeiro, Portuguesa, Noroeste, peaking around 1970, while Park Ji-sung reached his defining level around 2008 after spells with Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
163 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
The only man to score in every match of a World Cup-winning campaign (1970), Jairzinho was the explosive right winger of Brazil's most celebrated side.
“A powerful, direct winger who combined electric pace with a thunderous shot, terrorising full-backs down the right flank.”
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
- 2× FIFA World Cup (1962, 1970)
- 3× Campeonato Carioca (1962, 1967, 1968)
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1959 Professional debut for Botafogo
- 1962 Won FIFA World Cup with Botafogo
- 1962 Won Campeonato Carioca with Botafogo
- 1970 Reached the peak of his powers at Botafogo
- 1982 Retired after a final spell at Noroeste
- Finished his career with 350 goals in 650 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 350 goals in 650 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
Reasonable people will disagree, but Jairzinho wins out by a clear margin on the weight of a sharper goalscoring record.
Jairzinho edges it (a clear margin)
