Diego Maradona vs Ali Daei: Stats Compared
Forward / Playmaker, Argentina (born 1960, retired 1997) · Striker, Iran (born 1969, retired 2007)
Set Diego Maradona alongside Ali Daei and the numbers start an argument of their own. Strip away the highlights and the medal count tells its own story for each man. On production alone, Diego Maradona posted 293 goals across 582 appearances while Ali Daei managed 200 across 400. Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. Diego Maradona departs the game with 6 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (1986); Ali Daei with 4, including 3× Iranian Football League (1990, 1991, 1993). Diego Maradona built his medal haul through years of clinical consistency, while Ali Daei won his with mercurial bursts of brilliance. The wider career context matters too: Diego Maradona peaked around 1986 after representing Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, Newell's Old Boys, while Ali Daei's defining level came around 1999 across Persepolis, Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern Munich, Hertha BSC, Al-Sadd, Saba Qom. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
175 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
Argentine legend who almost single-handedly led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup and transformed Napoli into Italian and European contenders.
“A low-centre-of-gravity left-footed genius whose dribbling and playmaking carried teams single-handedly.”
The all-time leading international goalscorer for over a decade with 109 goals, Daei was Asia's most feared centre-forward through the 1990s and 2000s.
“A physically imposing, clinical target man dominant in the air and lethal in front of goal.”
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 (1986)
- 1× UEFA Cup (1989)
- 2× Serie A (1987, 1990)
- 1× Copa Italia (1987)
- 1× Argentine Primera División (1981)
- 3× Iranian Football League (1990, 1991, 1993)
- 1× Hazfi Cup (1993)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1976 Argentinos Juniors debut ten days before his 16th birthday
- 1981 Joined Boca Juniors and won the Argentine league
- 1982 World-record transfer to Barcelona
- 1984 Signed for Napoli for another world-record fee
- 1987 Led Napoli to their first ever Serie A title
- 1990 Captained Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup final
- 1997 Played his final professional matches at Boca Juniors
- 1988 Professional debut for Persepolis
- 1990 Won Iranian Football League with Persepolis
- 1993 Won Hazfi Cup with Persepolis
- 1999 Reached the peak of his powers at Bayern Munich
- 2007 Retired after a final spell at Saba Qom
- Finished his career with 200 goals in 400 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 200 goals in 400 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Diego Maradona the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Diego Maradona edges it (a decisive margin)
