Andrea Pirlo vs Ivan Rakitić: Stats Compared
Central / Attacking Midfielder, Italy (born 1979, retired 2017) · Central Midfielder, Croatia (born 1988, retired 2023)
Andrea Pirlo and Ivan Rakitić represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? Legacy is the only real measure that outlives the numbers, and both have staked towering claims. The raw numbers read 73 goals in 728 outings for Andrea Pirlo (0.10/game), versus 90 in 700 for Ivan Rakitić (0.13/game). The assist columns read 80 for Andrea Pirlo and 90 for Ivan Rakitić where the record exists. Andrea Pirlo departs the game with 13 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2006); Ivan Rakitić with 6, including 1× UEFA Champions League (2015). History will file Andrea Pirlo under dictatorial greatness and Ivan Rakitić under silky greatness — different shelves, same temple. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Andrea Pirlo's landmark level arrived around 2006 with a career spanning Brescia, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, New York City FC; Ivan Rakitić's came around 2015 across Basel, Schalke 04, Sevilla, Barcelona, Sevilla, Hajduk Split. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
173 words · comparison angle: legacy
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 key architect of Barcelona's 2015 treble and Croatia's run to the 2018 World Cup final, Rakitić combined tireless work rate with excellent passing range.
“A tireless, technically composed box-to-box midfielder whose range of passing linked defence and attack seamlessly.”
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× UEFA Champions League (2015)
- 1× UEFA Europa League (2014)
- 4× La Liga (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)
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
- 2005 Professional debut for Basel
- 2015 Won UEFA Champions League with Barcelona
- 2015 Won La Liga with Barcelona
- 2015 Reached the peak of his powers at Barcelona
- 2023 Retired after a final spell at Hajduk Split
- Finished his career with 90 goals in 700 appearances and 6 major honours. Finished his career with 90 goals in 700 appearances and 6 major honours.
The verdict
On balance Andrea Pirlo edges the comparison. The margin is a decisive margin, decided mostly by a weightier trophy cabinet.
Andrea Pirlo edges it (a decisive margin)
