Rivelino vs Roger Milla: Stats Compared
Left Midfielder, Brazil (born 1946, retired 1981) · Striker, Cameroon (born 1952, retired 1994)
Comparing Rivelino with Roger Milla means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Beyond the numbers, each man brought a singular aesthetic to the pitch. Rivelino finishes with 238 career goals from 624 games — a 0.38 strike rate — against Roger Milla's 150 from 400 at 0.38 per match. Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. Rivelino departs the game with 8 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (1970); Roger Milla with 3, including 2× Africa Cup of Nations (1984, 1988). Rivelino played with a intelligent that made him unmistakable; Roger Milla brought a explosive that was equally his own. The wider career context matters too: Rivelino peaked around 1970 after representing Corinthians, Fluminense, Al-Hilal, while Roger Milla's defining level came around 1990 across Union Douala, Valenciennes, Monaco, Bastia, Saint-Étienne, Montpellier, JS Kabylie. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
164 words · comparison angle: style
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.”
The exuberant hero of Cameroon's 1990 World Cup run, Milla became the oldest World Cup goalscorer at 42 and made his corner-flag dance world famous.
“A joyful, clever striker whose sharp movement and composure produced decisive goals late into his career.”
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)
- 2× Africa Cup of Nations (1984, 1988)
- 1× Coupe de France (1981)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1962 Established himself at Corinthians
- 1966 Reached his defining peak
- 1970 Delivered a landmark season
- 1981 Retired from professional football
- 1974 Professional debut for Union Douala
- 1984 Won Africa Cup of Nations with Monaco
- 1981 Won Coupe de France with Monaco
- 1990 Reached the peak of his powers at Montpellier
- 1994 Retired after a final spell at JS Kabylie
- Finished his career with 150 goals in 400 appearances and 3 major honours. Finished his career with 150 goals in 400 appearances and 3 major honours.
The verdict
On balance Rivelino edges the comparison. The margin is a decisive margin, decided mostly by a sharper goalscoring record.
Rivelino edges it (a decisive margin)
