Nilton Santos vs Park Ji-sung: Stats Compared
Left-Back, Brazil (born 1925, retired 1964) · Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014)
There is something timeless about weighing Nilton Santos against Park Ji-sung. Style separates them as much as statistics: two players, two unmistakable signatures. Across his senior career Nilton Santos notched 20 goals in 700 appearances (0.03 per game), while Park Ji-sung recorded 60 in 550 (0.11 per game). Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Nilton Santos is listed at 0 and Park Ji-sung at 60 where figures survive. The honours ledger favours Nilton Santos with 6 major trophies (2× FIFA World Cup (1958, 1962)) against Park Ji-sung's 5 (4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)). Stylistically Nilton Santos was elegant where Park Ji-sung was silky — two vocabularies of the same sport. Their routes to the top were distinct: Nilton Santos built his reputation across Botafogo, peaking around 1958, while Park Ji-sung reached his defining level around 2008 after spells with Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
172 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
Nicknamed 'The Encyclopedia of Football' for his tactical intelligence, Nilton Santos is widely credited as one of the pioneers of the modern attacking full-back role.
“An innovative, forward-thinking full-back whose overlapping runs helped redefine how the position was played.”
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 (1958, 1962)
- 4× Campeonato Carioca (1948, 1957, 1961, 1962)
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1948 Professional debut for Botafogo
- 1958 Won FIFA World Cup with Botafogo
- 1948 Won Campeonato Carioca with Botafogo
- 1958 Reached the peak of his powers at Botafogo
- 1964 Retired after a final spell at Botafogo
- Finished his career with 20 goals in 700 appearances and 6 major honours. Finished his career with 20 goals in 700 appearances and 6 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
On balance Nilton Santos edges the comparison. The margin is a clear margin, decided mostly by remarkable longevity.
Nilton Santos edges it (a clear margin)
