Park Ji-sung vs Esteban Cambiasso: Stats Compared
Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014) · Central Midfielder, Argentina (born 1980, retired 2016)
Put Park Ji-sung and Esteban Cambiasso side by side and you have a genuine generational conversation. Different decades shaped different demands, and both adapted to theirs brilliantly. Career output puts Park Ji-sung at 60 goals in 550 games, with Esteban Cambiasso at 60 in 620. In chance creation, Park Ji-sung tallied 60 assists to Esteban Cambiasso's 55. The honours ledger favours Park Ji-sung with 5 major trophies (4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)) against Esteban Cambiasso's 7 (1× UEFA Champions League (2010)). Park Ji-sung belonged to the turn of the millennium, dominating with a dictatorial quality; Esteban Cambiasso rose in the modern era with a dictatorial edge. The wider career context matters too: Park Ji-sung peaked around 2008 after representing Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers, while Esteban Cambiasso's defining level came around 2010 across River Plate, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Leicester City, Olympiacos. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
159 words · comparison angle: era
Player profiles
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.”
A tireless, tactically astute Argentine midfielder who anchored Inter's historic 2010 treble-winning side.
“A disciplined box-to-box midfielder with excellent positional sense and a surprising eye for a spectacular long-range 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
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2010)
- 5× Serie A (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
- 1× FIFA Club World Cup (2010)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 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.
- 1996 Professional debut for River Plate
- 2010 Won UEFA Champions League with Inter Milan
- 2010 Won FIFA Club World Cup with Inter Milan
- 2010 Reached the peak of his powers at Inter Milan
- 2016 Retired after a final spell at Olympiacos
- Finished his career with 60 goals in 620 appearances and 7 major honours. Finished his career with 60 goals in 620 appearances and 7 major honours.
The verdict
On balance Esteban Cambiasso edges the comparison. The margin is a clear margin, decided mostly by consistency at the very highest level.
Esteban Cambiasso edges it (a clear margin)
