Rivelino vs David Luiz: Stats Compared
Left Midfielder, Brazil (born 1946, retired 1981) · Centre-Back, Brazil (born 1987, retired 2023)
There is something timeless about weighing Rivelino against David Luiz. Position shapes everything in football, and these two fulfilled very different briefs. By the end Rivelino had 238 goals from 624 caps and club outings; David Luiz had 35 from 650. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Rivelino is listed at 0 and David Luiz at 25 where figures survive. Trophy counts give Rivelino 8 and David Luiz 6, with 1× FIFA World Cup (1970) and 1× UEFA Champions League (2012) the standout honours respectively. As a left midfielder Rivelino bent the role to a silky template; as a centre-back, David Luiz redefined it with anticipatory authority. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Rivelino's landmark level arrived around 1970 with a career spanning Corinthians, Fluminense, Al-Hilal; David Luiz's came around 2013 across Vitória, Benfica, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Arsenal, Flamengo. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
168 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Roberto Rivellino (born 1 January 1946), known mononymously as Rivellino, is a Brazilian football pundit and former player. He was a key member of Brazil’s 1970 FIFA World Cup-winning team and played as an attacking midfielder. He was renowned for his moustache, powerful long-range shooting, accurate passing, close control, dribbling and bending free kicks.
“A left-footed conductor famous for the elastico, fierce shooting and daring switches of play.”
An eccentric, unpredictable Brazilian centre-back famed for his wild hairstyles and thunderous free-kicks, David Luiz won trophies across three major European leagues.
“An unorthodox, high-risk centre-back who combined bold attacking instincts and a huge shot with occasionally erratic positioning.”
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 (1970)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2012)
- 2× UEFA Europa League (2013, 2019)
- 2× Premier League (2015, 2017)
- 1× FA Cup (2018)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1962 Established himself at Corinthians
- 1966 Reached his defining peak
- 1970 Delivered a landmark season
- 1981 Retired from professional football
- 2006 Professional debut for Vitória
- 2012 Won UEFA Champions League with Chelsea
- 2018 Won FA Cup with Chelsea
- 2013 Reached the peak of his powers at Chelsea
- 2023 Retired after a final spell at Flamengo
- Finished his career with 35 goals in 650 appearances and 6 major honours. Finished his career with 35 goals in 650 appearances and 6 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Rivelino takes it by a clear margin.
Rivelino edges it (a clear margin)
