Rivelino vs Youri Djorkaeff: Stats Compared
Left Midfielder, Brazil (born 1946, retired 1981) · Attacking Midfielder, France (born 1968, retired 2006)
Line up Rivelino next to Youri Djorkaeff and the contrasts come quickly. Position shapes everything in football, and these two fulfilled very different briefs. Rivelino finishes with 238 career goals from 624 games — a 0.38 strike rate — against Youri Djorkaeff's 200 from 600 at 0.33 per match. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Rivelino is credited with 0 and Youri Djorkaeff with 90. Rivelino departs the game with 8 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (1970); Youri Djorkaeff with 3, including 1× FIFA World Cup (1998). As a left midfielder Rivelino bent the role to a creative template; as a attacking midfielder, Youri Djorkaeff redefined it with silky authority. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Rivelino's landmark level arrived around 1970 with a career spanning Corinthians, Fluminense, Al-Hilal; Youri Djorkaeff's came around 1998 across Grenoble, Strasbourg, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Kaiserslautern, Bolton Wanderers, New York MetroStars. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
179 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.”
A stylish, powerful-shooting French playmaker, Djorkaeff scored crucial goals throughout France's 1998 World Cup triumph and starred for club sides across three countries.
“A creative attacking midfielder blessed with an unusually powerful shot and clever vision in tight areas.”
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× FIFA World Cup (1998)
- 1× UEFA European Championship (2000)
- 1× UEFA Cup (1998)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1962 Established himself at Corinthians
- 1966 Reached his defining peak
- 1970 Delivered a landmark season
- 1981 Retired from professional football
- 1986 Professional debut for Grenoble
- 1998 Won FIFA World Cup with Inter Milan
- 1998 Won UEFA Cup with Inter Milan
- 1998 Reached the peak of his powers at Inter Milan
- 2006 Retired after a final spell at New York MetroStars
- Finished his career with 200 goals in 600 appearances and 3 major honours. Finished his career with 200 goals in 600 appearances and 3 major honours.
The verdict
If forced to pick, Rivelino is the choice: a decisive margin, with a weightier trophy cabinet the deciding factor.
Rivelino edges it (a decisive margin)
