Andrea Pirlo vs Teddy Sheringham: Stats Compared
Central / Attacking Midfielder, Italy (born 1979, retired 2017) · Striker, England (born 1966, retired 2008)
Andrea Pirlo against Teddy Sheringham is the kind of comparison that fuels pub arguments for hours. Position shapes everything in football, and these two fulfilled very different briefs. By the end Andrea Pirlo had 73 goals from 728 caps and club outings; Teddy Sheringham had 320 from 900. Add playmaking to the mix and Andrea Pirlo laid on 80 goals, Teddy Sheringham 130. Andrea Pirlo departs the game with 13 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2006); Teddy Sheringham with 4, including 1× UEFA Champions League (1999). The central / attacking midfielder duties of Andrea Pirlo leaned dictatorial; the striker responsibilities of Teddy Sheringham leaned explosive. Club journeys add another layer, with Andrea Pirlo reaching his representative peak around 2006 across Brescia, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, New York City FC and Teddy Sheringham doing so around 1999 with Millwall, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, West Ham United, Colchester United. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
172 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 cerebral, late-developing striker, Sheringham scored the injury-time equaliser in Manchester United's 1999 Champions League final and remains the Premier League's oldest ever goalscorer.
“An intelligent, deep-dropping forward whose clever hold-up play and vision created space for quicker strike partners.”
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 (1999)
- 2× Premier League (1999, 2000)
- 1× FA Cup (1999)
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
- 1984 Professional debut for Millwall
- 1999 Won UEFA Champions League with Manchester United
- 1999 Won FA Cup with Manchester United
- 1999 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester United
- 2008 Retired after a final spell at Colchester United
- Finished his career with 320 goals in 900 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 320 goals in 900 appearances and 4 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)
