Park Ji-sung vs Rui Costa: Stats Compared
Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014) · Attacking Midfielder, Portugal (born 1972, retired 2008)
When Park Ji-sung and Rui Costa are mentioned in the same breath, opinions rarely stay quiet. It is in how they played, rather than what they won, that the comparison gets interesting. By the end Park Ji-sung had 60 goals from 550 caps and club outings; Rui Costa had 90 from 550. Add playmaking to the mix and Park Ji-sung laid on 60 goals, Rui Costa 100. Trophy counts give Park Ji-sung 5 and Rui Costa 4, with 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011) and 2× Coppa Italia (1996, 2001) the standout honours respectively. Stylistically Park Ji-sung was creative where Rui Costa was intelligent — two vocabularies of the same sport. 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 Rui Costa's defining level came around 2000 across Benfica, Fiorentina, AC Milan, Benfica. The honest conclusion is that comparison enriches appreciation rather than crowns a single winner.
163 words · comparison angle: style
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 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
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
- 2× Coppa Italia (1996, 2001)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2003)
- 1× Serie A (2004)
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.
- 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
Weighing production, silverware and profile, the two finish within a whisker of each other. Call it a respectful draw — greatness of this calibre resists a single winner.
Too close to call — a respectful draw
