Pelé vs Kaká: Stats Compared
Forward, Brazil (born 1940, retired 1977) · Attacking Midfielder, Brazil (born 1982, retired 2017)
Ask any fan to rank Pelé above or below Kaká and you will get a passionate answer. Position shapes everything in football, and these two fulfilled very different briefs. Career output puts Pelé at 757 goals in 812 games, with Kaká at 237 in 594. Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. In major honours Pelé collected 14 — headlined by 3× FIFA World Cup (1958, 1962, 1970) — whereas Kaká amassed 6, led by 1× FIFA World Cup (2002). The forward duties of Pelé leaned explosive; the attacking midfielder responsibilities of Kaká leaned creative. Club journeys add another layer, with Pelé reaching his representative peak around 1970 across Santos, New York Cosmos and Kaká doing so around 2007 with São Paulo, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Orlando City. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
156 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, Pelé is the only player to win three FIFA World Cups. FIFA recognises 757 official senior career goals (1,281 including friendlies).
“A two-footed, athletic forward who combined explosive pace, aerial ability and extraordinary vision.”
Brazilian attacking midfielder and 2007 Ballon d'Or winner; Champions League winner with AC Milan in 2007.
“A tall, graceful attacking midfielder who glided past defenders and finished with precision.”
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
- 3× FIFA World Cup (1958, 1962, 1970)
- 2× Copa Libertadores (1962, 1963)
- 2× Intercontinental Cup (1962, 1963)
- 6× Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
- 1× NASL Soccer Bowl (1977)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2002)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2007)
- 2× FIFA Confederations Cup (2005, 2009)
- 1× Serie A (2004)
- 1× La Liga (2012)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1956 Professional debut for Santos aged 15
- 1958 Became youngest World Cup goalscorer at 17
- 1959 Top scorer in the Campeonato Brasileiro
- 1962 Won second World Cup despite injury in the final
- 1969 Scored his 1,000th career goal
- 1975 Came out of semi-retirement to join New York Cosmos
- 1977 Honoured at Pelé Day halftime show at Giants Stadium
- 2001 São Paulo breakthrough
- 2002 World Cup winner (limited role)
- 2003 Signed for AC Milan
- 2005 Lost the Champions League final in Istanbul
- 2007 Champions League winner and Ballon d'Or winner
- 2009 Record transfer to Real Madrid
- 2017 Retired at Orlando City
The verdict
On balance Pelé edges the comparison. The margin is a decisive margin, decided mostly by a sharper goalscoring record.
Pelé edges it (a decisive margin)
