Rivelino vs Mesut Özil: Stats Compared
Left Midfielder, Brazil (born 1946, retired 1981) · Attacking Midfielder, Germany (born 1988, retired 2023)
There is something timeless about weighing Rivelino against Mesut Özil. Where pure finishing is concerned, this is a shootout between two of the most feared marksmen of their time. Across his senior career Rivelino notched 238 goals in 624 appearances (0.38 per game), while Mesut Özil recorded 114 in 645 (0.18 per game). Assists were never formally recorded across most of their eras, so the playmaking dimension has to be judged on reputation and highlights rather than hard totals. Trophy counts give Rivelino 8 and Mesut Özil 8, with 1× FIFA World Cup (1970) and 1× FIFA World Cup (2014) the standout honours respectively. Where Rivelino was a incisive presence in the box, Mesut Özil offered a dictatorial approach to goalscoring. The wider career context matters too: Rivelino peaked around 1970 after representing Corinthians, Fluminense, Al-Hilal, while Mesut Özil's defining level came around 2012 across Schalke, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Fenerbahçe. The honest conclusion is that comparison enriches appreciation rather than crowns a single winner.
166 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
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.”
Mesut Özil is a German former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Known for his ball control, technical skills, creativity, passing skills, and vision, he is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation. Born and raised in Gelsenkirchen, Özil began his senior club career playing for hometown club Schalke 04, before signing with Werder Bremen in 2008, aged 19.
“A left-footed chance creator whose weight of pass and scanning made assists look effortless.”
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 (2014)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1962 Established himself at Corinthians
- 1966 Reached his defining peak
- 1970 Delivered a landmark season
- 1981 Retired from professional football
- 2004 Established himself at Schalke
- 2008 Reached his defining peak
- 2012 Delivered a landmark season
- 2023 Retired from professional football
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Mesut Özil takes it by a narrow margin.
Mesut Özil edges it (a narrow margin)
