Mesut Özil vs Rui Costa: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Germany (born 1988, retired 2023) · Attacking Midfielder, Portugal (born 1972, retired 2008)
Line up Mesut Özil next to Rui Costa and the contrasts come quickly. Style separates them as much as statistics: two players, two unmistakable signatures. By the end Mesut Özil had 114 goals from 645 caps and club outings; Rui Costa had 90 from 550. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Mesut Özil is listed at 0 and Rui Costa at 100 where figures survive. In major honours Mesut Özil collected 8 — headlined by 1× FIFA World Cup (2014) — whereas Rui Costa amassed 4, led by 2× Coppa Italia (1996, 2001). Mesut Özil played with a incisive that made him unmistakable; Rui Costa brought a silky that was equally his own. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Mesut Özil's landmark level arrived around 2012 with a career spanning Schalke, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Fenerbahçe; Rui Costa's came around 2000 across Benfica, Fiorentina, AC Milan, Benfica. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
173 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
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.”
A wonderfully elegant Portuguese playmaker, Rui Costa was the creative fulcrum of Fiorentina's late-90s side before winning the Champions League with AC Milan.
“A visionary, effortlessly stylish playmaker celebrated for his weighted through-balls and elegant range of passing.”
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 (2014)
- 2× Coppa Italia (1996, 2001)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2003)
- 1× Serie A (2004)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2004 Established himself at Schalke
- 2008 Reached his defining peak
- 2012 Delivered a landmark season
- 2023 Retired from professional football
- 1990 Professional debut for Benfica
- 1996 Won Coppa Italia with Fiorentina
- 2004 Won Serie A with AC Milan
- 2000 Reached the peak of his powers at Fiorentina
- 2008 Retired after a final spell at Benfica
- Finished his career with 90 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 90 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
If forced to pick, Mesut Özil is the choice: a decisive margin, with a weightier trophy cabinet the deciding factor.
Mesut Özil edges it (a decisive margin)
