Paolo Maldini vs Raúl: Stats Compared
Centre-Back / Left-Back, Italy (born 1968, retired 2009) · Striker, Spain (born 1977, retired 2015)
Comparing Paolo Maldini with Raúl means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Position shapes everything in football, and these two fulfilled very different briefs. Across his senior career Paolo Maldini notched 40 goals in 1028 appearances (0.04 per game), while Raúl recorded 432 in 1032 (0.42 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. The honours ledger favours Paolo Maldini with 19 major trophies (5× UEFA Champions League (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007)) against Raúl's 16 (3× UEFA Champions League (1998, 2000, 2002)). As a centre-back / left-back Paolo Maldini bent the role to a commanding template; as a striker, Raúl redefined it with mercurial authority. Their routes to the top were distinct: Paolo Maldini built his reputation across AC Milan, peaking around 2003, while Raúl reached his defining level around 2002 after spells with Real Madrid, Schalke 04, Al Sadd, New York Cosmos. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
175 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
AC Milan's most decorated player, spending his entire 25-year career at the club; five-time Champions League winner.
“A composed, intelligent defender who read the game with immaculate timing across 25 seasons at Milan.”
Real Madrid legend who captained the club to three Champions League titles; held the all-time Champions League goals record before Messi and Ronaldo surpassed him.
“An intelligent, tireless forward whose movement off the ball created chances for himself and others.”
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
- 5× UEFA Champions League (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007)
- 7× Serie A (1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004)
- 1× Coppa Italia (2003)
- 5× UEFA Super Cup
- 1× FIFA Club World Cup (2007)
- 3× UEFA Champions League (1998, 2000, 2002)
- 6× La Liga
- 4× Supercopa de España
- 2× Intercontinental Cup (1998, 2002)
- 1× UEFA Super Cup (2002)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1985 AC Milan debut aged 16
- 1988 First Scudetto with Milan
- 1989 First European Cup with Milan
- 1994 Named man of the match in the Champions League final
- 2003 Won the Champions League final at Old Trafford
- 2007 Won his fifth Champions League trophy
- 2009 Retired aged 41 after 25 seasons at Milan
- 1994 Real Madrid debut aged 17
- 1996 Won La Liga with Real Madrid
- 1998 Champions League winner at 20
- 2000 Champions League winner, top scorer in the tournament
- 2003 Became Real Madrid captain
- 2010 Left Real Madrid after 16 years at the club
- 2015 Retired at New York Cosmos
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Paolo Maldini takes it by a clear margin.
Paolo Maldini edges it (a clear margin)
