Kaká vs Ivan Rakitić: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Brazil (born 1982, retired 2017) · Central Midfielder, Croatia (born 1988, retired 2023)
Comparing Kaká with Ivan Rakitić means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Honours are what separate great players from trophy-laden legends, and both qualify. Kaká finishes with 237 career goals from 594 games — a 0.40 strike rate — against Ivan Rakitić's 90 from 700 at 0.13 per match. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Kaká is listed at 0 and Ivan Rakitić at 90 where figures survive. In major honours Kaká collected 6 — headlined by 1× FIFA World Cup (2002) — whereas Ivan Rakitić amassed 6, led by 1× UEFA Champions League (2015). One lifted trophies through incisive reliability, the other through orchestrating moments that decided finals. 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; Ivan Rakitić's came around 2015 across Basel, Schalke 04, Sevilla, Barcelona, Sevilla, Hajduk Split. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
176 words · comparison angle: trophies
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.”
A key architect of Barcelona's 2015 treble and Croatia's run to the 2018 World Cup final, Rakitić combined tireless work rate with excellent passing range.
“A tireless, technically composed box-to-box midfielder whose range of passing linked defence and attack seamlessly.”
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× UEFA Champions League (2015)
- 1× UEFA Europa League (2014)
- 4× La Liga (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)
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
- 2005 Professional debut for Basel
- 2015 Won UEFA Champions League with Barcelona
- 2015 Won La Liga with Barcelona
- 2015 Reached the peak of his powers at Barcelona
- 2023 Retired after a final spell at Hajduk Split
- Finished his career with 90 goals in 700 appearances and 6 major honours. Finished his career with 90 goals in 700 appearances and 6 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Kaká the lead — a clear margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Kaká edges it (a clear margin)
