Rivelino vs Andrea Pirlo: Stats Compared
Left Midfielder, Brazil (born 1946, retired 1981) · Central / Attacking Midfielder, Italy (born 1979, retired 2017)
Set Rivelino alongside Andrea Pirlo and the numbers start an argument of their own. Different decades shaped different demands, and both adapted to theirs brilliantly. By the end Rivelino had 238 goals from 624 caps and club outings; Andrea Pirlo had 73 from 728. 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 Andrea Pirlo with 80. In major honours Rivelino collected 8 — headlined by 1× FIFA World Cup (1970) — whereas Andrea Pirlo amassed 13, led by 1× FIFA World Cup (2006). Across the 1970s and the turn of the millennium respectively, their incisive and intelligent styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. The wider career context matters too: Rivelino peaked around 1970 after representing Corinthians, Fluminense, Al-Hilal, while Andrea Pirlo's defining level came around 2006 across Brescia, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, New York City FC. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
175 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.”
Italian playmaker and World Cup winner; six-time Serie A champion and two-time Champions League winner.
“A deep-lying regista whose passing range and free-kick craft orchestrated Italy and Juventus for a decade.”
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 (2006)
- 2× UEFA Champions League (2003, 2007)
- 6× Serie A
- 2× Coppa Italia
- 2× UEFA Super Cup (2003, 2007)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1962 Established himself at Corinthians
- 1966 Reached his defining peak
- 1970 Delivered a landmark season
- 1981 Retired from professional football
- 1995 Brescia debut aged 16
- 1998 Signed for Inter Milan but failed to break through
- 2001 Joined AC Milan and his career took off
- 2006 World Cup winner with Italy
- 2011 Free transfer to Juventus
- 2014 Set a Serie A points record with Juventus
- 2015 Joined MLS side New York City FC
The verdict
Weighing production against honours, Andrea Pirlo takes the verdict — a clear margin, driven by a weightier trophy cabinet.
Andrea Pirlo edges it (a clear margin)
