Andrea Pirlo vs Franco Baresi: Stats Compared
Central / Attacking Midfielder, Italy (born 1979, retired 2017) · Sweeper / Centre-Back, Italy (born 1960, retired 1997)
Ask any fan to rank Andrea Pirlo above or below Franco Baresi and you will get a passionate answer. Strikers are judged on goals, and on that raw currency both men delivered extraordinary returns. The raw numbers read 73 goals in 728 outings for Andrea Pirlo (0.10/game), versus 19 in 800 for Franco Baresi (0.02/game). Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Andrea Pirlo is listed at 80 and Franco Baresi at 0 where figures survive. Andrea Pirlo departs the game with 13 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2006); Franco Baresi with 18, including 3× European Cup (1989, 1990, 1994). Andrea Pirlo scored with a creative that defined his era, while Franco Baresi's finishing carried a commanding all of its own. Their routes to the top were distinct: Andrea Pirlo built his reputation across Brescia, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, New York City FC, peaking around 2006, while Franco Baresi reached his defining level around 1989 after spells with AC Milan. The honest conclusion is that comparison enriches appreciation rather than crowns a single winner.
189 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
Italian playmaker and World Cup winner; six-time Serie A champion and two-time Champions League winner.
“A deep-lying regista whose passing range and free-kick craft orchestrated Italy and Juventus for a decade.”
AC Milan icon who spent his entire 20-year career at the club; three-time European Cup winner and 1994 World Cup finalist with Italy.
“A peerless sweeper whose reading, tackling and leadership built a defensive dynasty at Milan.”
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 (2006)
- 2× UEFA Champions League (2003, 2007)
- 6× Serie A
- 2× Coppa Italia
- 2× UEFA Super Cup (2003, 2007)
- 3× European Cup (1989, 1990, 1994)
- 6× Serie A (1979, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996)
- 4× Supercoppa Italiana
- 3× UEFA Super Cup
- 2× Intercontinental Cup (1989, 1990)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1995 Brescia debut aged 16
- 1998 Signed for Inter Milan but failed to break through
- 2001 Joined AC Milan and his career took off
- 2006 World Cup winner with Italy
- 2011 Free transfer to Juventus
- 2014 Set a Serie A points record with Juventus
- 2015 Joined MLS side New York City FC
- 1977 AC Milan debut aged 17
- 1979 First Scudetto with Milan
- 1980 Stayed at Milan in Serie B after the betting scandal
- 1989 First European Cup with Milan
- 1994 Won the Champions League conceding just 15 goals in 30 league games
- 1997 Retired aged 37 with the number 6 shirt retired in his honour
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Franco Baresi takes it by a clear margin.
Franco Baresi edges it (a clear margin)
