Rivelino vs Emmanuel Petit: Stats Compared
Left Midfielder, Brazil (born 1946, retired 1981) · Defensive Midfielder, France (born 1970, retired 2004)
The Rivelino–Emmanuel Petit comparison is one of those fixtures of footballing folklore. Both built reputations on finding the back of the net, but they did it in markedly different ways. On production alone, Rivelino posted 238 goals across 624 appearances while Emmanuel Petit managed 45 across 500. 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 Emmanuel Petit with 40. In major honours Rivelino collected 8 — headlined by 1× FIFA World Cup (1970) — whereas Emmanuel Petit amassed 4, led by 1× FIFA World Cup (1998). Where Rivelino was a silky presence in the box, Emmanuel Petit offered a incisive approach to goalscoring. Club journeys add another layer, with Rivelino reaching his representative peak around 1970 across Corinthians, Fluminense, Al-Hilal and Emmanuel Petit doing so around 1998 with Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
163 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.”
Scorer of France's third goal in the 1998 World Cup final, Petit was a versatile, combative midfielder who completed the Premier League and FA Cup double with Arsenal that same year.
“A tall, technically sound midfielder capable of playing centre-back or holding midfield with equal composure.”
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× Premier League (1998)
- 1× FA 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
- 1988 Professional debut for Monaco
- 1998 Won FIFA World Cup with Arsenal
- 1998 Won FA Cup with Arsenal
- 1998 Reached the peak of his powers at Arsenal
- 2004 Retired after a final spell at Chelsea
- Finished his career with 45 goals in 500 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 45 goals in 500 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Rivelino the lead — a clear margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Rivelino edges it (a clear margin)
