Park Ji-sung vs Bixente Lizarazu: Stats Compared
Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014) · Left-Back, France (born 1969, retired 2006)
Park Ji-sung against Bixente Lizarazu is the kind of comparison that fuels pub arguments for hours. Position shapes everything in football, and these two fulfilled very different briefs. Across his senior career Park Ji-sung notched 60 goals in 550 appearances (0.11 per game), while Bixente Lizarazu recorded 15 in 600 (0.03 per game). Add playmaking to the mix and Park Ji-sung laid on 60 goals, Bixente Lizarazu 30. In major honours Park Ji-sung collected 5 — headlined by 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011) — whereas Bixente Lizarazu amassed 7, led by 1× FIFA World Cup (1998). The midfielder duties of Park Ji-sung leaned orchestrating; the left-back responsibilities of Bixente Lizarazu leaned anticipatory. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Park Ji-sung's landmark level arrived around 2008 with a career spanning Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers; Bixente Lizarazu's came around 2001 across Bordeaux, Athletic Bilbao, Bayern Munich, Marseille. Arguments will run and run, which is exactly why the matchup endures.
166 words · comparison angle: role
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 world judo champion off the pitch, Lizarazu was one of the finest left-backs of his generation, winning the World Cup, European Championship and Champions League with Bayern Munich.
“A compact, combative full-back whose low centre of gravity and stamina let him bomb up and down the flank all match.”
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× FIFA World Cup (1998)
- 1× UEFA European Championship (2000)
- 4× Bundesliga (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2001)
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.
- 1988 Professional debut for Bordeaux
- 1998 Won FIFA World Cup with Bayern Munich
- 2001 Won UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich
- 2001 Reached the peak of his powers at Bayern Munich
- 2006 Retired after a final spell at Marseille
- Finished his career with 15 goals in 600 appearances and 7 major honours. Finished his career with 15 goals in 600 appearances and 7 major honours.
The verdict
Reasonable people will disagree, but Bixente Lizarazu wins out by a narrow margin on the weight of consistency at the very highest level.
Bixente Lizarazu edges it (a narrow margin)
