Rivelino vs Bixente Lizarazu: Stats Compared
Left Midfielder, Brazil (born 1946, retired 1981) · Left-Back, France (born 1969, retired 2006)
Rivelino and Bixente Lizarazu represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? Separated by their years at the top, each defined the football of their own generation. Rivelino finishes with 238 career goals from 624 games — a 0.38 strike rate — against Bixente Lizarazu's 15 from 600 at 0.03 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 Bixente Lizarazu with 30. Rivelino departs the game with 8 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (1970); Bixente Lizarazu with 7, including 1× FIFA World Cup (1998). Rivelino belonged to the 1970s, dominating with a incisive quality; Bixente Lizarazu rose in the turn of the millennium with a elegant edge. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Rivelino's landmark level arrived around 1970 with a career spanning Corinthians, Fluminense, Al-Hilal; Bixente Lizarazu's came around 2001 across Bordeaux, Athletic Bilbao, Bayern Munich, Marseille. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
185 words · comparison angle: era
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 world judo champion off the pitch, Lizarazu was one of the finest left-backs of his generation, winning the World Cup, European Championship and Champions League with Bayern Munich.
“A compact, combative full-back whose low centre of gravity and stamina let him bomb up and down the flank all match.”
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)
- 4× Bundesliga (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2001)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1962 Established himself at Corinthians
- 1966 Reached his defining peak
- 1970 Delivered a landmark season
- 1981 Retired from professional football
- 1988 Professional debut for Bordeaux
- 1998 Won FIFA World Cup with Bayern Munich
- 2001 Won UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich
- 2001 Reached the peak of his powers at Bayern Munich
- 2006 Retired after a final spell at Marseille
- Finished his career with 15 goals in 600 appearances and 7 major honours. Finished his career with 15 goals in 600 appearances and 7 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)
