Ivan Rakitić vs Per Mertesacker: Stats Compared
Central Midfielder, Croatia (born 1988, retired 2023) · Centre-Back, Germany (born 1984, retired 2018)
Comparing Ivan Rakitić with Per Mertesacker means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Reputations harden into legacies, and few careers cast longer shadows than these two. By the end Ivan Rakitić had 90 goals from 700 caps and club outings; Per Mertesacker had 15 from 550. The assist columns read 90 for Ivan Rakitić and 5 for Per Mertesacker where the record exists. The honours ledger favours Ivan Rakitić with 6 major trophies (1× UEFA Champions League (2015)) against Per Mertesacker's 4 (1× FIFA World Cup (2014)). History will file Ivan Rakitić under silky greatness and Per Mertesacker under resolute greatness — different shelves, same temple. Club journeys add another layer, with Ivan Rakitić reaching his representative peak around 2015 across Basel, Schalke 04, Sevilla, Barcelona, Sevilla, Hajduk Split and Per Mertesacker doing so around 2014 with Hannover 96, Werder Bremen, Arsenal. The honest conclusion is that comparison enriches appreciation rather than crowns a single winner.
157 words · comparison angle: legacy
Player profiles
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.”
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× UEFA Champions League (2015)
- 1× UEFA Europa League (2014)
- 4× La Liga (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2014)
- 3× FA Cup (2014, 2015, 2017)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 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.
- 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
The numbers give Ivan Rakitić the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Ivan Rakitić edges it (a decisive margin)
