Andrea Pirlo vs Per Mertesacker: Stats Compared
Central / Attacking Midfielder, Italy (born 1979, retired 2017) · Centre-Back, Germany (born 1984, retired 2018)
Line up Andrea Pirlo next to Per Mertesacker and the contrasts come quickly. They occupied different roles, which makes a like-for-like verdict a careful exercise. By the end Andrea Pirlo had 73 goals from 728 caps and club outings; Per Mertesacker had 15 from 550. The assist columns read 80 for Andrea Pirlo and 5 for Per Mertesacker where the record exists. The honours ledger favours Andrea Pirlo with 13 major trophies (1× FIFA World Cup (2006)) against Per Mertesacker's 4 (1× FIFA World Cup (2014)). As a central / attacking midfielder Andrea Pirlo bent the role to a orchestrating template; as a centre-back, Per Mertesacker redefined it with commanding authority. 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 Per Mertesacker reached his defining level around 2014 after spells with Hannover 96, Werder Bremen, Arsenal. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
169 words · comparison angle: role
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.”
A towering, calm German centre-back nicknamed 'BFG' by Arsenal fans, Mertesacker started every match of Germany's triumphant 2014 World Cup campaign.
“A commanding, positionally intelligent centre-back whose reading of the game compensated for a lack of raw pace.”
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)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2014)
- 3× FA Cup (2014, 2015, 2017)
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
- 2001 Professional debut for Hannover 96
- 2014 Won FIFA World Cup with Arsenal
- 2014 Won FA Cup with Arsenal
- 2014 Reached the peak of his powers at Arsenal
- 2018 Retired after a final spell at Arsenal
- Finished his career with 15 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 15 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
If forced to pick, Andrea Pirlo is the choice: a decisive margin, with a sharper goalscoring record the deciding factor.
Andrea Pirlo edges it (a decisive margin)
