Kaká vs Mesut Özil: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Brazil (born 1982, retired 2017) · Attacking Midfielder, Germany (born 1988, retired 2023)
There is something timeless about weighing Kaká against Mesut Özil. Goals are the coldest, hardest metric in football, and both players stockedpile them. The raw numbers read 237 goals in 594 outings for Kaká (0.40/game), versus 114 in 645 for Mesut Özil (0.18/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. Trophy counts give Kaká 6 and Mesut Özil 8, with 1× FIFA World Cup (2002) and 1× FIFA World Cup (2014) the standout honours respectively. Kaká scored with a intelligent that defined his era, while Mesut Özil's finishing carried a orchestrating all of its own. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Kaká's landmark level arrived around 2007 with a career spanning São Paulo, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Orlando City; Mesut Özil's came around 2012 across Schalke, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Fenerbahçe. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
162 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
Brazilian attacking midfielder and 2007 Ballon d'Or winner; Champions League winner with AC Milan in 2007.
“A tall, graceful attacking midfielder who glided past defenders and finished with precision.”
Mesut Özil is a German former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Known for his ball control, technical skills, creativity, passing skills, and vision, he is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation. Born and raised in Gelsenkirchen, Özil began his senior club career playing for hometown club Schalke 04, before signing with Werder Bremen in 2008, aged 19.
“A left-footed chance creator whose weight of pass and scanning made assists look effortless.”
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 (2002)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2007)
- 2× FIFA Confederations Cup (2005, 2009)
- 1× Serie A (2004)
- 1× La Liga (2012)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2014)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2001 São Paulo breakthrough
- 2002 World Cup winner (limited role)
- 2003 Signed for AC Milan
- 2005 Lost the Champions League final in Istanbul
- 2007 Champions League winner and Ballon d'Or winner
- 2009 Record transfer to Real Madrid
- 2017 Retired at Orlando City
- 2004 Established himself at Schalke
- 2008 Reached his defining peak
- 2012 Delivered a landmark season
- 2023 Retired from professional football
The verdict
Weighing production against honours, Kaká takes the verdict — a narrow margin, driven by a sharper goalscoring record.
Kaká edges it (a narrow margin)
